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BARRON'S

BARRON'S

FIFTH EDITION

Murray Bromberg Principal Emeritus Andrew Jackson High School Queens, New York

Melvin Gordon Reading Specialist New York City Schools

©Copyright 2008, 2000. 1993, 1987, 1971 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc.

AU rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

AU Inquiries should be addressed to: Barron's Educational Series, Inc. 250 Wireless Boulevard Hauppauge, NY 11788 www.barro...educ.com

Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 2007050610

ISBN-13: 978-0-7641-3864-5 ISBN-10: 0-7641-3864-2

Ubrary of eo..-. C.talo ..... -bl-PubUcatlon Data

Bromberg. Murray. 1100 words you need to know I Murray Bromberg, Melvtn Gordon. - 5th ed.

p. em. Cover title: Barron's 1100 words you need to know Includes index. ISBN-13: 978-0-7641-3864-5 ISBN-10: 0-7641-3864-2 l. Vocabulary. I. Gordon. Melvin. II. Title. III. Title: Eleven hundred words

you need to know. IV. Title: Barron's 1100 words you need to know.

PE1449.B643 2008 428.1-dc22 2007050610

PRINTED IN 1HE UNITED SJ'ATES OF AMERICA

CONTENTS

Fl,lll Pronunciation Key ............................................ vi

WEEKS 1-46 ...............................................•.... 1

Burted Words .................................................. 290

Words in Context ............................................... 294

Arlswers ...................................................... 295

Final Review Test ............................................... 312

Panorama of Words ............................................. 319

Bonus Weeks .................................................. 367

VOC/QUarE .................................................. 381

Index ........................................................ 391

INTRODUCTION Recently, Amazon. com rated 1100 Words You Need to Know the Number 1 bestseller in its category. We're proud of that distinction and of the vocabulary building help that we have provided for the million people who have purchased copies of the book since its first edition appeared.

Now, in this Anniversary Edition, we have added a Bonus section of new words in context, idioms, and exercises that will assist you in mastering the challenging words as you find them in your listening, reading, viewing, and conversing. The new material is consistent with our successful blueprint of interest, variety, relevance, and repetition. By investing 15 minutes daily with this new book, you will soon see a dramatic improvement in your vocabulary.

To the Teacher: 1100 Words was originally designed as a 36-week program to conform to school schedules. The additional ten weeks were included as an extra credit section. Now, for this Anniversary Edition, we have added bonus weeks and new words to enrich your growing vocabulary.

Murray Bromberg

Melvin Gordon

FULL PRONUNCIATION KEY

a bat, trap j just, enjoy u bull, pull a rage, lace k kin, talk ii dual. sue a jar, farther 1 lose, hurl

m mice, cram v vast, have b bag, sob n not, into w wish, wood

ch chill, such ng song, ring y youth, yes d done, said z zoo, zest

0 rot, cot zh pleasure, treasure e .met, rest 0 tow, blow e ease, see 6 cord, lord

;} stands for: er fern, learri oi toil. boil a-in around

ou mouse~ bout e in waken f feel. stiff i in cupid g gone, big p pest, cap o in demon h him, hold r red, art u in brush

s see. best inch, pin sh crush, crash

-1 ivy, hive t time, act

th this, math :r:H they, booth

vi

READING WISELY The youngster who reads voraciously, though indiscriminately, does not necessarily gain in wisdom over the teenager who is more selective in his reading choices. A young man who has read the life story of every eminent athlete of the twentieth century, or a coed who has steeped herself in every social-protest novel she can get her hands on, may very well be learning all there is to know in a very limited area. But books are replete with so many wonders that it is often discouraging to see bright young people limit their own experiences.

NEw WoRDS

voracious ~ra.·sms

indiscriminate in· dis krfm · ~ nit

eminent em' a mot

steeped stept

replete ri' plet·

Sample Sentences On the basis of the above paragraph, try to use your new words in the following sentences. Occasionally it may be necessary to change the ending of a word; e.g., indiscriminately to indiscriminate.

1. The football game was ______ with excitement and great plays.

2. The ______ author received the Nobel Prize for literature.

3. My cousin is so in schoolwork that his friends call him a bookworm.

4. After skiing, I find that I have a appetite.

5. Modern warfare often results in the ______ killing of combatants and innocent civilians alike.

Definitions Now that you have seen and used the new words in sentences, and have the definitions "on the tip of your tongue," try to pair the words with their meanings.

6. voracious a. of high reputation, outstanding

7. indiscriminate b. completely ftlled or supplied with

8. eminent

9. steeped

10. replete

c. choosing at random without careful selection

d. desiring or consuming great quantities

e. soaked, drenched, saturated

TODAY'S IDIOM

to eat humble pie-to admit your error and apologize After his candidate had lost the election, the boastful

campaign manager had to eat hwnble pte.

ANSWERS ARE ON PACE 295 1

NEW WORDS

abound ~bound'

technology tek nor~ je

prognosticate prog nos' t~ kat

automaton o tom'~ ton

matron rna: tr~n

SOLVING THE SERVANT PROBLEM The worlds of science-fiction abound with wonders. Yet modem technology progresses so rapidly that what may be today's wild dream may be next year's kitchen appliance. A British scientist has prognosticated that within ten years every suburban matron will have her own robot servant. One task this domesticated automaton will not have to contend with will be scouring the oven because even today the newest ranges can be "programed" to reduce their own baked-on grime to easily disposed of ashes.

Sample Sentences Now that you've seen the words used in context, and-hopefully-have an il~ea of their meanings, try to use them in the following sentences. Remember that a wor( -ending may have to be changed.

1. The mayor refused to as to his margin of victory in the election.

2. The time is approaching when human workers may be replaced by _____ _

3. A clever salesman will always ask a ______ if her mother is at home.

4. The western plains used to with bison before those animals were slaughtered by settlers.

5. Man may be freed from backbreaking labor by the products of scientific

Definitions Test yourself now by matching the new words with the definitions. If you are not sure of yourself, cover the top half of this page before you begin.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

2

abound a. an older married woman

technology b. branch of knowledge dealing with engineering, applied science, etc.

prognosticate c. a robot; a mechanical "person"

automaton d. to exist in great numbers

matron e. to predict or foretell a future event

TODAY'S IDIOM

a pig in a poke-an item you purchase without having seen; a disappointment

The mail order bicycle that my nephew bought turned out to be a pig in a poke, and he is now trying to get his money back.

ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 295

NEw Woaos

IT'S A MAN'S WORLD

paradox par'; doks

realm relm

annals an'n;lz

How paradoxical that the world's greatest chefs have all been men! Cooking would clearly seem to be a field that lies exclusively within women's realm. yet the wmals of cookecy are replete• with masculine names: Brillat Savarin, Ritz, Diat, Larousse. To compound the puzzle, there has rarely been a tinge of rumor or scandal casting doubts on the masculinity of these heroes of cuisine.

compound kom pound'

(*replete-if you've forgotten the meaning, see page 1) tinge

tlnj

Sample Sentences Try your hand now at using your new words by writing them in their correct form (change endings if necessary) in these sentences:

1. His gloom was now by the failing mark on his geometry test.

2. The of sports are replete• with the names of great black athletes.

3. One of the great of American life is that though minority groups have suffered injustices, nowhere in the world have so many varied groups lived together so harmoniously.

4. A of garlic is all that's necessacy in most recipes.

5. The cruel king would not allow the prince to enter his , restricting him to the forest, which abounded* with wild animals.

(*abounded-studied previously, see page 2)

Definitions If you are having trouble in picking the right definitions, it may be best not to do them in the order given, but to do the ones you are surest of first.

6. paradox a. a trace, smattering, or slight degree

7. realm b. a statement that at first seems to be absurd or self-contradictocy but which may in fact tum out to be true

8. annals c. to increase or add to

9. compound (v.) d. historical records

10. tinge (n.) e. special field of something or someone; kingdom

TODAY'S IDIOM

a flash in the pan-promising at the start but then disappointing The rookie hit many home runs in spring training, but once

the season began he proved to be a }lash in the pan.

ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 295 3

NEW WORDS

badger baj'O)r

implore im plor'

drudgery druj' O)r e interminable in ter· ffiO) nO) 1»1

perceive par sev'

WEEK 1 •!• DAY 4

HOW NOT TO GET YOUR WAY It is difficult to change someone's opinion by badgering him. The child who begs his mother to "get off his back" when she implores him for some assistance with the household drudgery, may very well plead interminably for some special privilege when he wants something for himself. How paradoxical* that neither is able to perceive that no one likes being nagged.

(*paradoxical-studied previously, see page 3)

Sample Sentences Getting the hang of it? Now go on to use the five new words in the following sentences-remember, past tenses may be required.

1. She does her homework on Fridays to save herself from the ______ of having to do it durtng the weekend.

2. The teacher continually ______ the pupil for the missing assignments.

3. The eminent scientist difficulties in putting the invention into practice.

4. The sick child's mother the doctor to come immediately.

5. I listened to the boring lecture for what seemed an fifty minutes.

Definitions Pick the letter of the definition that matches your new word and write it in the answer space.

6. badger (v.) a. unpleasant, dull, or hard work

7. implore b. unending

8. drudgery c. to plead urgently for aid or mercy

9. interminable d. to understand, know, become aware of

1 0. perceive e. to pester, nag, annoy persistently

4

TODAY'S IDIOM

to pour oil on troubled waters-to make peace, to calm someone down When I tried to pour oU on troubled waters, both the angry husband

and his wife stopped their quarrel and began to attack me.


WEEK 1 •!• DAY 5 REVIEW

You have accomplished something worthwhile this week. In learning twenty useful words and four idioms, you have taken a step toward a greater mastery of our language. As a result of today's lesson, you will become aware of those words that require greater study on your part for complete success in these first lessons. Take the following quiz by matching the best possible definition with the word you have studied. Write the letter that stands for that definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. abound a. to be completely soaked in something 2. annals b. to be able to tell what will happen in the future 3. automaton c. someone's special field 4. badger d. to continually nag 5. compound e. carelessly chosen 6. drudgery f. related to science of engineering 7. eminent g. to add to 8. implore h. beg for assistance 9. indiscriminate i. of outstanding reputation

1 0. interminable j. a mature woman 11. matron k. small amount of 12. paradox I. dull, difficult work 13. perceive m. desiring huge amount 14. prognosticate n. existing in great number 15. realm o. historical records 16. replete P· to come to have an understanding of 17. steeped q. completely filled with 18. technology r. machine that behaves like a person 19. tinge s. seemingly self-contradictory situation 20. voracious t. unending

IDIOMS 21. to eat humble pie u. a blind item; poor purchase 22. a pig in a poke v. admit to defeat 23. a flash in the pan w. a star today, a flop tomorrow 24. to pour oil on troubled waters x. to try to make peace

Now check your answers on page 295. Make a record of those words you missed. You can learn them successfully by studying them and by using them in your own original sentences. If you neglect them, then the effort you have put into your vocabulary building campaign up to this point will have been wasted.

WORDS FOR FURTHER STUDY

1. -------------------

2. -------------------

3. -------------------

4. -------------------

5. -------------------

MEANINGS

5

SENSIBLE SENTENCES? (From Week 1)

6

•:• Underline the word that makes sense in each of the sentences below.

1. The huge football player had a (voracious, replete) appetite.

2. Mter a seemingly (interminable, indiscriminate) wait, the surgeon came to give us the news.

3. Without a (paradox, tinge) of evidence, the coroner could not solve the murder.

4. In the (realm. annals) of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

5. We invited the (eminent, steeped) engineer to address our club.

6. In the Catsldll Mountains, the woods (abotmd, implore) with deer.

7. I cannot (perceive, prognostfcate) why people voted for the corrupt senator.

8. Night and day my kid brother (badgers, compotmds) me for money.

9. Science fiction movies usually feature (annals, crutomatons).

10. With his expertise in (drudgery, technology), my uncle is able to earn a good salacy .

.. •.• Do these sentences make sense? Explain why.

11. The rookie was amazing during spring training but he turned out to be ajlash in the pan.

12. I complained to the salesperson because he had sold me a pig in a poke.

13. When I tried to pour oU on troubled waters, I only made matters worse.

14. Mter the election, when my candidate conceded his loss, I had to eat hwnblepie.


WORDSEARCH 1

.. •.• Using the clues listed below, ftll in each blank in the following story

with one of the new words you learned this week.

Reggie the Con Man

In the <D of crime, there are few scoundrels who could match the

exploits of Reggie Hayes, who also used the names of Reginald Haven,

Ricardo Hermosa, Father Harris, and dozens of other aliases. Reggie's police

record, principally in Chicago and Baltimore, is® with scams that

he perpetrated upon gullible people. Generally, his favorite target was a

® who should have known better.

Dressed as a priest ("Father Harris"), he was most convincing, however. His

method of operation was to "find" a wallet stuffed with hundred dollar bills

outside a supermarket and then @ an unsuspecting woman to

share his good fortune, since there was no identification in the wallet. But

first, to establish her credibility, his victim had to put up a sum of money as

a testimonial to her good faith. Mrs. Emma Schultz, age 72, tearfully told the

police that she had withdrawn $14,000 fro~ her bank and placed it in a

shopping bag supplied by the helpful priest. He told her to hold onto the bag

while he went next door to a lawyer's office to make the sharing of their good

fortune legal.

After a seemingly @...::..5 ___ wait, Mrs. Schultz discovered to her chagrin

that the heartless thief had skipped out the back way, leaving her "holding

the bag" -a switched bag containing shredded newspaper-while he made

his getaway with her life savings.

Clues

CD 3rd Day

® 1st Day

® 2nd Day

@ 4th Day

® 4th Day


NEW WORDS WEEK 2 •!• DAY 1

laconic 1~ kon· lk

throng throng

intrepid in trep' td

accost ~ kost'

reticent ret'~ SClnt

TO THE POINT Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was named "Silent Cal" by reporters because of his laconic speech. One Sunday, after Mr. Coolidge had listened to an interminable* sermon, a throng of newsmen gathered around him. An intrepid reporter accosted the Chief Executive: "Mr. President, we know that the sermon was on the topic of sin. What did the minister say?" "He was against it," the reticent Coolidge replied.

(*interminable-see page 4. Each review word will be followed by an asterisk-you will .find the .first use of the word by consulting the Index at the back of the book.)

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences:

1. His speech was usually rambling, but this time I found it brief and _____ _

2. If a surly panhandler should ______ you, keep on walking.

3. Even under repeated questioning, the witness remained _____ _

4. A howling of teenage girls surrounded the rap artists.

5. The corporal received the Silver Star for his ______ deeds in combat.

Definitions Match the new words with their dictionary meanings.

6. laconic a. expressing much in few words

7. throng b. brave

8. intrepid c. to approach and speak to

9. accost d. crowd

1 0. reticent e. silent

8

TODAY'S IDIOM

the sword of Damoc/es-any imminent danger (a king seated one of his subjects underneath a sword that was

hanging by a hair, in order to teach him the dangers a king faces)

Although the president of the company seemed quite secure, he always complained that there was a sword of Danwcles hanging over his head.


WEEK 2 •:• DAY 2

IF I HAD THE WINGS OF AN ANGEL Casting a furtive glance over his shoulder, the felon slipped out the main prison gate to be swallowed up in the British fog. A pletlwra of escapes from supposedly secure prisons embarrassed the hapless . wardens. To compound* their problems, the officials were badgered• by irate citizens who accused the guards of accepting bribes from convicts whose motto was: "Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage."

(*compound-see page 3; *badgered-see page 4)

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

NEW WORDS

furtive fer' ttv

felon fel' .,n

plethora pleth'., ~

hapless hap' lis

irate i' nit or i rat'

1. The ______ contest winner was unable to locate the lucky ticket.

2. My uncle was wheP. the drunken driver swerved in front of us.

3. In a manner she removed her shoes and tiptoed up to her room.

4. When the teacher asked why the homework had not been done, he was greeted by a of incredible alibis.

5. Since the boss learned that Bob associated with a known ______ , he fired him.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. furtive a. angry, incensed

7. felon b. a person guilty of a major crime

8. plethora c. unfort~nate

9. hapless d. excess

10. irate e. secret, stealthy

TODAY'S IDIOM

Pyrrhic victory-a too costly victory (King Pyrrhus defeated the Romans but his losses were extremely heavy)

In heavy fighting the troops managed to recapture the hill, but it could only be considered a Pyrrhic victory.


NEW WORDS

pretext pre· tekst

fabricate fab~ rn kat

adroit a droit·

gesticulate je sttk· ya lat

vigilant vif a lant


DR. JEKYLL OR MR. HYDE? Under the pretext of being a surgeon he gained entry to the hospital. When interviewed by the director, he had to fabricate a tale of his medical experience, but he was so adroit at lying that he got away with it. It was not until the phony "doctor" began to gesticulate wildly with his scalpel, that a vigilant nurse was able to detect the fraud. In the annals* of medical history there have been a number of such cases.


1. The shootings at Columbine High School made educators much more

2. My nephew is quite at making model airplanes.

3. Most fishermen can a story about the size of the one that got away.

4. Her of being tired did not fool us for an instant.

5. I often marvel as I watch the traffic officer ______ at the onrushing cars.

Definitions Pick the letter of the definition that matches your new word and write it in the answer space.

6. pretext

7. fabricate

8. adroit

9. gesticulate

1 0. vigilant

10

a. to lie: to construct

b. skillful

c. an excuse

d. watchful

e. move the arms energetically

TODAY'S IDIOM

a wet blanket-one who spoils the fun

Everyone wanted the party to go on, but Ronnie, the wet blanket, decided to go home to bed.

ANSWERS ARE ON PACE 295

YOU'VE GOT TO BE A FOOTBALL EXPERT As an avid football fan, I try to see every game the Jets play. Whenever I can cajole my father into accompanying me, I try to do so. He has only a rudimentary knowledge of the game, and since I am steeped* in it, I enjoy explaining its intricate details to him. It certainly does enhance your appreciation of football when you are aware of every nuance of the sport.

NEW WORDS

avid av· id

cajole k~ Joi'

rudimentary n1' d~ men'~ re

enhance tn hans·

nuance nii ans'

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences. You may have to change the ending of a word.

1. Since my grasp of algebra is , I cannot solve the problem.

2. The parakeet refused to be into entering her cage.

3. It will your enjoyment of an opera if you know what the plot is about in advance.

4. In reading the satires of Jonathan Swift, one must be vigilant• in order to catch each

5. Bill Clinton is an ______ reader of mystery stories.


6. avid

7. cajole

8. rudimentary

9. enhance

10. nuance


a. eager

b. slight variation in meaning, tone, etc.

c. coax

d. intensify, heighten

e. elementary

TODAY'S IDIOM

to beard the lion in his den-to visit and oppose a person on his own grounds

Having decided to beard the lion, I stormed into the manager's office to ask for a raise.

11

REVIEW WEEK 2 •!• DAY 5

Keep adding to your vocabulary, as it is one of the most useful tools a student can possess. Let's go over the twenty new words and four idioms you studied during this week.

In the following quiz, match the best possible definition with the word you have studied. Write the letter that stands for that definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. acost a. uncommunicative 2. adroit b. enthusiastic 3. avid c. alert 4. cajole d. overabundance 5. enhance e. courageous 6. fabricate f. to greet first 7. felon g. an excuse 8. furtive h. unlucky 9. gesticulate i. angry

10. hapless j. criminal 11. intrepid k. basic, elementary 12. irate I. clever 13. laconic m. to make up a lie 14. nuance n. great number of people 15. plethora o. concise, pithy 16. pretext p. to use lively gestures 17. reticent q. shade of difference 18. rudimentary r. sly 19. throng s. coax, wheedle 20. vigilant t. to make greater

IDIOMS 21. the sword of Damocles u. an expensive conquest 22. Pyrrhic victory 23. a wet blanket 24. to beard the lion

Now check your answers on page 295. Make a record of those words you missed. You can learn them successfully by studying them and using them in your own original sentences. If you neglect them, then the effort you have expended in building up your vocabulary may be wasted.

12

v. spoilsport w. defy an opponent in his home x. any threatening danger


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. ------~---------

4. -----------------

5. -----------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 2

•:• Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

The Best Laid Plans

Gloria Rogers overslept and then had to sprint to catch the same

Greyhound Bus that she boarded on the last Thursday of every month. J\Jter

a three-hour uneventful ride, she finally arrived at the bus terminal where a

courtesy van was ready to transport bus passengers to Visitors Day at the

State Penitentiary.

Although Gloria tried to act casual, she was more than a little nervous. Her

boyfriend, Art, a convicted CD , had managed to gain admittance to

the prison's hospital on the ® of having a gall bladder attack. Under

her own slacks and bulky sweater, Gloria was wearing a set of clothes that

she removed in the hospital bathroom and passed on to Art. He planned to

use them after making his escape in the back of the prison ambulance that

was parked outside his ward.

Art had spelled out his escape plan during Gloria's last visit, spending an

hour trying to® her into being his accomplice. All that she had to

do was appear to have a seizure. Then she would@ a story about

her epilepsy while Art, with the smuggled clothes concealed under his prison

bathrobe, would slip out of the ward during the excitement. Unfortunately for

the schemers, a ® hospital guard spotted Art climbing into the rear

of the ambulance and quickly foiled the escape attempt. The result was that

Art had three years added to his sentence and Gloria was imprisoned for her

role in the misadventure.

Clues

CD 2nd Day

® 3rd Day

@ 4th Day

@) 3rd Day

® 3rd Day


NEW WORDS

loathe loth

reprimand rep' r.l mand

lackluster lak' Ius' t~r

caustic k6' stik

wrest rest


THE PEPTALK "If there's one thing I loathe," the coach said, "it's a quitter." He had good reason to reprimand us at half-time, because the scoreboard revealed that we were losing, 45-20. Our lackluster performance indicated to him that we had forgotten the rudimentary• aspects of basketball. His caustic remarks fired us up, however, and we dashed out, determined to wrest control of the game from our rivals.


1. With the help of his brothers he was able to ______ the leadership of the company from his partner.

2. Speaking in a monotone, the politician was booed for his address.

3. In a article, the drama critic slaughtered the hapless• actors.

4. I spinach but I love other green vegetables.

5. When Ed arrived late, he knew that the grocer would ______ him.

Definitions Match the new words with their dictionary definitions.

6. loathe a. dull

7. reprimand (v.) __ b. to hate

8. lackluster c. sarcastic, biting

9. caustic d. take by force

10. wrest e. to show sharp disapproval

14

TODAY'S IDIOM

crocodile tears-insincere tears (crocodiles were said to cry while eating their prey)

When the football player broke his leg, his substitute wept crocodile tears.


THE HANDCUFF IS QUICKER THAN THE EYE Slippery Eddie, the infamous pickpocket, was back at work, 'and every detective had to be especially vigilant.• Eddie's technique was to jostle a victim toward a confederate who would then slip the man's wallet out of his back pocket while Eddie was stammering an apology to the confused dupe. Within a week the incipient crtmewave came to an end when Slippery Eddie inadvertently chose the chief of police for his victim. Although Eddie loathes• Sing Sing, it's his permanent address now.

Sample Sentences Can you put the new words in the right sentences?

NEW WORDS

infamous in' r~ m~s

jostle jos· ~•

dupe dup

incipient in sip' e ~nt

inadvertent in ~d v~rt· nt

1. By telling the truth, we stopped the rumor from spreading.

2. The bombing of Pearl Harbor was referred to as an deed.

3. The wealthy consented to buy the often-sold Brooklyn Bridge.

4. When he attempted to the old lady, she struck him with her umbrella.

5. Through an ______ error, the guided missile sped out of control.


6. infamous

7. jostle

8. dupe (n.)

9. incipient

1 0. inadvertent

a. having a bad reputation

b. just beginning to exist

c. to shove hard

d. a person easily tricked

e. heedless, not attentive

TODAY'S IDIOM

to carry the day-to win the approval of the majority

The secretary's motion that we adjourn for lunch carried the day, and we headed for the restaurant


NEW WORDS

ominous om·~ n~s

tremulous trem· y~ l~s

repudiate rt py0· de at

cessation se sa· sh~n

bristle brts· ~1


COURTROOM DRAMA There was an ominous silence when the jittery defendant rose in court. !-Ie explained in a tremulous voice what had led him to repudiate his confession made at the police station on the night of the crime. The audience began to buzz excitedly until the judge demanded a cessation of the noise. Although the district attorney bristled with anger, the defendant kept insisting that his lights had been violated because he had not been told that he could see a lawyer before confessing.

Sample Sentences Fit the new words into the blanks.

1. Mter the weatherman had seen the clouds, he prognosticated* rain.

2. The general attempted to the testimony of the lieutenant, claiming that the young officer was not an authority on low level bombing.

3. Upon seeing the snake, the cat began to with fear.

4. The widow's ______ hands revealed her nervousness.

5. The of the bombing in Iraq was urged by the Pope.


6. ominous

7. tremulous

8. repudiate

9. cessation

10. bristle (v.)

16

a a stopping

b. to reject, decline

c. stiffen with fear or anger

d. threatening

e. quivering

TODAY'S IDIOM

Skid Row-disreputable part of town, inhabited by derelicts and people "on the skid"

The presence of so many bars has turned our neighborhood into another Skid Row.



CALL ME BY MY RIGHT NAME My cousin refers to himself as a .. sanitary engineer" -a euphemism for garbage collector. There are any number of people who try to find more respectable or glamorous titles for the mundane jobs they hold. It may seem incongruous to call an undertaker a .. condolence counselor," or to refer to a taxi driver as a .. transportation expediter," but some prefer those titles. As a matter of fact, our butcher has stipulated that from now on he wants to be known as a "meat coordinator." He became irate* when I inadvertently* called him "Butch."

Sample Sentences In which blanks do the new words belong?

NEW WORDS

euphemism yii, r~ miz ~m

mundane mun'dan

incongruous in kong· gni ~s

condolence bn do' I~ns

stipulate stlp' u lat

1. We repudiated* the contract because it did not ______ a cost of living bonus.

2. The word "expired" is a for "died."

3. When my neighbor's dog was run over, we sent a ______ card.

4. The philosopher dealt with spiritual things, ignoming the ______ ones.

5. The play was so ______ that it seemed to be the work of several authors.


6. euphemism

7. mundane

8. incongruous

9. condolence

10. stipulate

a. worldly

b. a less offensive term

c. to specify a condition

d. inappropriate

e. pity

TooAY's IDIOM

to go up in smoke--to come to no practical result (kindling smokes but it will not light a fire)

The mayor's plans to get the gubernatorial nomination went up in smoke when he couldn't end the costly strike.


REVIEW

The word "review" means "to view again" and that is the purpose of our weekly review. You will have noticed, of course, that many of the words that appear as new words are repeated in subsequent lessons. Sometimes they are in the paragraph, sometimes in the sample sentences, and occasionally in the idioms or directions. This continued emphasis on "viewing again" will help you to become familiar with the vocabulary. In the following quiz, match the best possible definition with the word you have studied. Write the letter that stands for that definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. bristle a. 2. caustic b. 3. cessation c. 4. condolence d. 5. dupe e. 6. euphemism f. 7. inadvertent g. 8. incipient h. 9. incongruous i.

1 0. infamous t. 11. jostle 12. lackluster I. 13. loathe m. 14. mundane n. 15. ominous o. 16. reprimand p. 17. repudiate q. 18. stipulate r. 19. tremulous s. 20. wrest t.

IDIOMS 21. crocodile tears 22. to cany the day 23. Skid Row 24. to go up in smoke

Now check your answers on page 296. Make a record of those words you missed. You can learn them successfully by studying them and using them regularly in speech and in your writing.

18

despise menacing evil a pause just starting trembling to have one's hair stand up stinging earthly due to an oversight, negligent make a specific demand to push, to elbow an easily fooled person expression of sympathy to scold severely seize having inconsistent elements disown, refuse to accept lacking brightness saying something in a less direct way

u. run down district v. hypocritical sympathy w. to win the honors x. end fruitlessly


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

4. -----------------

5. -----------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 3

• •.• Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Desert Storm Decision

In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, where the United Nations forces, led by Americans, ousted the invading Iraqi army from Kuwait's soil, the ....:::;<D ___ _

of combat took place in short order after the Allies were able to®...::. ___ _

control of the skies from the ® Saddam Hussein's air force.

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the U.S. field commander, tended to

@ when asked by the media why he hadn't pursued the enemy all

the way to Baghdad, saying:

.. It would have been foolhardy for us to try to occupy that capital city and pile

up American casualties from sniper attacks by Iraq's guerillas. That may be

hard for you Monday morning quarterbacks to understand but I thoroughly

agreed with the president who was convinced that such an action would have

sent a bad message to the Arab world and would have splintered the Allied

partnership."

Schwarzkopf reiterated that it was his mission to hurl back the invaders with

a minimum of bloodshed but not, he added in a ® tone, "to splatter

Sad dam over the desert sands. That dictator's days are numbered," the

general concluded, .. but I expect his end is likely to come at the hands of his

own people." As it happens, the general was wrong about that.

Clues

<D 3rd Day

® 1st Day

@ 2nd Day

@ 3rd Day

® 1st Day


NEW WORDS

alacrity ., lak· r;;, te disdain disdan·

belligerent b;;, lif ;;,r ;;,n t

intimidate in urn·., dat

feint rant


MULLINS A K.O. VICTIM When the bell sounded, K.O. Mullins responded with alacrity. He sprang from his stool and charged across the ring, showing disdain for the champion's strength. Although this belligerent attitude impressed the referee, it failed to intimidate the champ. That intrepid* battler laid the hapless• Mullins low with an adroit* feint and an uppercut.


1. Y2K concerns of the January 1, 2000 problems with computers failed to ______ our company.

2. The Germans were duped* by the Allies' toward the south, leaving the way open for the Normandy invasion.

3. The waiter moved with because he perceived* they were big tippers.

4. His ______ manner caused him to lose one friend after another.

5. When the curtain carne down, the critic's face registered the ______ she felt for the lackluster• play.


6. alacrity

7. disdain (n.)

8. belligerent

9. intimidate

10. feint

20

a. contempt

b. a false attack

c. warlike

d. to overawe

e. briskness, lively action

TODAY'S IDIOM

to throw down the gauntlet-to challenge someone (when the gauntlet, or medieval glove, was thrown down,

the challenged one was required to pick it up)

The principal of our rival school threw down the gauntlet, and we had no choice but to accept the challenge.


MULLINS THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET* The pugnacious K.O. Mullins demanded a rematch. He took a full-page newspaper advertisement to promulgate his challenge. When the champ's manager saw the brash announcement, he accosted* Mullins, who was surrounded by a throng• of newsmen. The manager openly scoffed at Mullins and belittled his fighting ability. Mullins then lost his temper and fearlessly punched the manager, knocking him from his wheelchair.


NEW WORDS

pugnacious pug na' shas

promulgate Jirom' al gat

brash brash

scoff skof

belittle bi lit' 1

1. We implored• the faculty advisor to ______ the requirements for the presidency of the club.

2. My mother liked the salesman's personality, but he irritated most people.

3. I don't understand modem art, but I neither loathe* nor at it.

4. Since everyone can outpunch my cousin, he cannot afford to be _____ _

5. Although Ralph can't play, he doesn't hesitate to the efforts of our football team.


6. pugnacious

7. promulgate

8. brash

9. scoff

1 0. belittle


a. quarrelsome

b. to make seem less importan~

c. to sneer at

d. impudent

e. to make known officially

TooAv's IDIOM

feeling no pain-drunk

Although the party had just begun, after his first drink he was feeling no pain.

21

NEW WORDS

tangible tan· j~ b~l

laceration las ~ ni' sh~n

castigate kas· t~ gat

sordid sor· did

octogenarian ok' t~ j~ nar' 1 ~n


MULLINS FORCED TO EAT HUMBLE PIE* The irate* 80-year-old manager pressed charges against K.O. Mullins, suing him for assault. As tangible evidence of the attack, he pointed to a deep laceration over his eyebrow that had required ten stitches. When the case was brought before the court, the judge castigated Mullins for the sordid incident. In addition to a costly financial settlement, Mullins was required to make a public apology to the octogenarian.


1. The medic reached into his kit to find a bandage for the ugly _____ _

2. Mr. Dixon belittled* our request for proof of his loyalty.

3. The kindly foreman was too reticent• to openly ______ the clumsy new worker.

4. When the teenager announced her engagement to the , the public suspected it to be a publicity stunt.

5. Stories of their youth poured forth from the unhappy felons. •


6. tangible a. having actual form

7.

8.

9.

10.

22

laceration b. to correct by punishing

castigate c. jagged wound

sordid d. dirty, base

octogenarian e. person in his or her eighties

TODAY'S IDIOM

Hobson's choice--to have no choice at all (Mr. Hobson owned a livery stable but he did not allow the customers to pick their own horses)

Despite all the talk about democracy in my family, my father usually gives the rest of us Hobson's clwice.


THE DECLINE OF MULLINS Mullins sought solace in whiskey. Once a highly respected aspirant for the lightweight crown, he now found himself associating with the dregs of Skid Row.* He would work himself into an alcoholic frenzy in which he would trumpet scurrilous attacks on the champ, the old manager, and the judge. One avid* fight fan attributed Mullins' absence from the ring to sickness, saying that he was "recovering from a bad case of-SCOTCH."


NEW WORDS

solace sol· is

aspirant O)Spl" ~nt

dregs dregz

frenzy fren· ze

scurrilous sker· 0) lO)S

1. Vigilant* censors protect the public from listening to ______ language on television.

2. The publisher scoffed* at the reports that he was an ______ for the job of Secretary of State.

3. In a ______ , the teenager overturned every drawer while searching for the car keys.

4. At the bottom of the beautiful wine bottle, only the remained.

5. In trying to offer to the pilot's wife, the reporter inadvertently* made the situation worse.


6. solace

7. aspirant

8. dregs

9. frenzy

1 0. scurrilous

a. most worthless part

b. coarse

c. easing of grief

d. wild fit

e. candidate for high position

TODAY'S IDIOM

to rule the roost-to be in charge, to be master (a roost is a perch where domestic birds can sleep)

Although he is a lowly private in the army, at home he rules the roost.


REVIEW

Let's see how many of the new words studied during the course of this week you remember. Incidentally, try to keep a record of the many times you find your new words in magazines, newspapers, and books. Before you knew the meanings of those words you probably skipped right over them.

In the following quiz, match the best possible definition with the word you have studied. Write the correct letter in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. alacrity a. scorn 2. aspirant b. to make afraid 3. belligerent c. frantic outburst 4. belittle d. person of eighty 5. brash e. to mock 6. castigate f. make public, proclaim 7. disdain g. pretense, sham 8. dregs h. combative 9. feint i. candidate for better job

10. frenzy j. seeking war, hostile 11. intimidate k. speak of as unimportant 12. laceration I. vulgar, using indecent language 13. octogenarian m. insolent 14. promulgate n. punish, chastise 15. pugnacious o. comfort 16. scoff p. most worthless part 17. scurrilous q. able to be touched 18. solace r. rough cut 19. sordid s. filthy, ignoble 20. tangible t. quick willingness

IDIOMS 21. to throw down the gauntlet u. be the boss, lay down the laws 22. feeling no pain 23. Hobson's choice 24. to rule the roost

Check your answers on page 296. Make a record of those words you missed. You can master them with additional review.

24

v. under the influence of alcohol w. to offer a challenge x. to have no say in a matter


1. ----------------

2. -----------------

3. ----------------

4. -----------------

5. -----------------

MEANINGS

SENSIBLE SENTENCES? (from Week 4)

•!• Underline the word that makes sense in each of the sentences below.

1. We were impressed with the new maid because she cleaned the house with (alacrity, solace).

2. All (aspirants, lacerations) for the basketball team must come to practice today.

3. Once he was a millionaire, but today he can be found among the (dregs, octogenarians) of society.

4. The newspaper specialized in printing the (sordid, brash) details of crime in the city.

5. After finding the (pugnacious, tangible) evidence in his drawer, Roger took i~ to the police.

6. The normally (scurrUous, belligerent) police dog was unusually quiet this morning.

7. Bobby, who was extremely modest, always (belittled, castigated) his own achievements.

8. Treated with (frenzy, disdain) by his stepfather, Artie grew closer to his natural father.

9. When the results of the bar exam were (intimidated, promulgated) Adele saw that she had passed handsomely.

1 0. I used to (scoff, feint) at Hank's stories of the fish he had caught, but he made a believer out of me.


WORDSEARCH 4

26

•!• Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Want to Hun for Officer

In recent years, we have seen the phenomenon of incumbent politicians

retiring in record numbers. When interviewed, many of them admitted that

they had lost their taste for the job because of the abuse to which an

<D for office is subjected.

"My last campaign was a ® affair in which my opponents did

everything to® my record and air@ charges about my

private life," said one congressman. "I don't have to stand still for such

treatment," he added, "which was terribly embarrassing to me and my

entire family."

Citizen groups, appalled by the candidates' mudslinging, have sought to do

something about the situation. Committees have been formed in a number of

states to study ways to elevate the tone of the process, reduce the

emotionalism, and eliminate the ® of name calling that is generated

as election day draws near.

"Unless we clean up this mess," said the chairman of an Illinois caucus, "we

will lose the best and the brightest from the political arena. After all, who but

a masochist wants to be a punching bag, the subject of daily vilification in

the media, and a target for every malcontent in town?"

Clues

<D 4th Day

® 3rd Day

® 2nd Day

@ 4th Day

® 4th Day


CHEATING Duling my first weeks at the new school I obseiVed that cheating was rampant. I had always considered it rather inane to cheat on a test because of my code of ethics, and because so much was at stake. Apparently the other students didn't concur. In fact, even the presence of a proctor did not intimidate• them. Far from being a clandestine activity, the cheating was open and obvious.


NEW WOR;:>S

rampant ram· ~nt

inane in an·

ethics eth· lks

concur keln ker·

clandestine klan des· teln

1. When the plague was on the island. Dr. Arrowsmith's wife died.

2. The spies thought their meetin~ was a one. but a throng• of F.B.I. agents gathered outside the building.

3. A special management committee was asked to investigate business _____ _

4. Orville Wright was criticized for his desire to fly.

5. If I can get my parents to . I'll join the Peace Corps.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

rampant a. secret, undercover

inane b. code of principles

ethics c. foolish

concur d. agree

clandestine e. going unchecked, widespread

TODAY'S IDIOM

stock in trade--the goods, tools, and other requisites of a profession

A quick wit and a warm smile were the salesman's stock in trade.


NEW WORDS

flagrant na· gr.mt

admonish ad mon' ish

duress du res'

culprit kul' prit

inexorable in ek' ~r a hal

CRACK~NG DOWN Mr. Dorsey, our new principal, determined to do something about the flagrant cheating at our high school. He issued bulletins and began to admonish those teachers who did not proctor alertly. Under duress, the faculty reported the names of the culprits. Several crib sheets were turned in as tangible* evidence of the cheating. Mr. Dorsey's inexorable campaign against the wrong-doers seemed to be paying off.

Sample Sentences Into which sentences do the new words fit best?

1. The ______ was caught with his fingers in the cookie jar.

2. Television sleuths are ______ in their pursuit of lawbreakers.

3. The confession was signed under , the attorney claimed.

4. I suspect that my father will me for coming home late.

5. Parking in front of a hydrant is a violation of the city's law.


6. flagrant

7. admonish

8. duress

9. culprit

10. inexorable

28

a. inflexible, unrelenting

b. compulsion, force

c. outrageous, glaringly bad

d. the guUty person

e. to warn, to reprove

TODAY'S IDIOM

to take down a peg-to take the conceit out of a braggart (ship's colors used to be raised or lowered by pegs

the higher the colors, the greater the honor)

The alumni thought they had a great basketball team, but our varsity took them down a peg.


STAR PLAYER IS CAUGHT The cheating scandal came to a head when Art Krause, our football captain, made the egregious mistake of getting caught cheating on a midterm exam. If Art were suspended (or his part in that sordid* affair, our chances for winning the city championship would go up in smoke. • The distraught coach asked the principal to overlook Art's duplicity. but Mr. Dorsey replied in an acrimonious fashion that the players had been given "a plethora" of athletic instruction but a paucity of moral guidance."


1. The bank teller's ______ error was difficult to correct.

NEW WORDS

egregious i gre· J~

distraught dis trot'

duplicity du pUs' ., te acrimonious

ak' fOl mo' ne OlS

paucity pa' SO) te

2. We tried to ignore her comments, but that took considerable restraint.

3. ______ is the stock in trade of all adroit* counterspies.

4. Although it was a creative writing class. the teacher complained about the ______ of talent there.

5. The soldiers were ______ to learn that their furloughs had been canceled.


6. egregious a. scarcity

7. distraught b. cunning, trickery

8. duplicity c. mentally confused, crazed

9. acrimonious d. remarkably bad

10. paucity e. bitter

TODAY'S IDIOM

to pass the buck-to evade responsibility (the "buck" may have been a piece of buckshot passed from one

poker player to another to keep track of whose turn it was to deal) He always gives me a straight answer and never tries to pass the buck.


NEW WORDS

elicit i lis' It

pernicious par ntsh' as

tolerate tol' ~rat

construe k~n stni'

impunity tm pyii · n~ te


OUR PYRRHIC VICTORY* Mr. Dorsey summoned a representative group of teachers and student leaders to his office in order to elicit their reactions to the suspension of the football captain. He told them that cheating was a pernicious disease that could not be tolerated at our school. He loathed* having to discipline Art Krause so severely, but unless strict measures were taken, the student body would construe the incident as an open invitation to cheat with impunity. "We may lose a football game," the principal said, "but we can salvage our self-respect."


1. The border guards allowed the doctor to cross the frontier with _____ _

2. It isn't easy to answers from a sleepy class on Monday morning.

3. Dentists appreciate patients who can pain.

4. She hoped that we would not her decision to run for office as a thirst for power.

5. The dictator's rules failed to intimidate* the leaders of the underground.

Definitions Place the letter of the correct defmition in the blank next to the new vocabulary word.

6. elicit a. freedom from punishment

7. pernicious b. to make a deduction, to infer

8. tolerate c. to put up with, to bear

9. construe d. to draw forth

10. impunity e. harmful, causing injury

TODAY'S IDIOM

to lionize a person-to make a big fuss over someone (the lions at the Tower of London were considered its main attraction)

When the famous poet Dylan Thomas visited the United States, he was lionized wherever he lectured.

30 ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 296


Congratulations! You have covered the first one hundred words in the book. With the same diligence you should be able to tackle the remaining work and to master most of the challenging words. Take the following quiz by matching the best possible definition with the word you have studied. Write the letter that stands for that definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. acrimonious a. 2. admonish b. 3. clandestine c. 4. concur d. 5. construe e. 6. culprit f. 7. distraught g. 8. duplicity h. 9. duress i.

10. egregious j. 11. elicit k. 12. ethics I. 13. flagrant m. 14. impunity n. 15. inane o. 16. inexorable p. 17. paucity q. 18. pernicious r. 19. rampant s. 20. tolerate t.

IDIOMS 21. stock in trade 22. to take down a peg 23. pass the buck 24. to lionize a person

Now check your answers on page 296. Make a record of those words you missed. You can learn them successfully by studying them and by using them in original sentences. Use a word three times and it is yours forever, a wise man once said.

double-dealing cannot be moved by persuasion, inflexible silly flourishing to scold, warn harassed to permit, to put up with extract damaging, harmful outstanding for undesirable quality notorious force, coercion exemption moral philosophy agree hidden, secret to interpret one who commits a crime shortage caustic, bitter

u. to idolize v. to humiliate w. the necessary equipment x. to refuse to take responsibility


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

4. -----------------

5. -----------------

MEANINGS

31

WORDSEARCH 5

32


Driving While Drunk

Throughout literature we find recurring tales of forthright people who are

outspoken in condemning illegal pl'a.ctices only to be brought low themselves

when they. or members of their families. commit such acts. Since literature

reflects life. we can expect to find similar instances in which a person's

<D are compromised, and he falls prey to the @ evil that he

had publicly denounced.

Take the story of Barry Vernon (not his real name). an aggressive Ohio district

attorney. Vernon could be counted upon to make®~---- remarks about

anyone who was driving while intoxicated. On numerous speaking

engagements. he railed against drunkenness and swore that any such

® who was found behind the wheel of a car would be prosecuted to

the full extent of the law.

As fate would have it, Vernon's own son smashed into several cars. injuring

four people seriously, and then failed a sobriety test.

Following that....:..® ____ violation of the law. Vernon resigned from office.

saying that as a private citizen he would continue his crusade against those

who drive under the influence of alcohol. Meanwhile. he wished to spend

more time with his son to try to understand the young man's behavior.

Clues

CD 1st Day

® 4th Day

® 3rd Day

@ 2nd Day

® 2nd Day



THE NEWSPAPER UMBRELLA Our neighbor is an aJJiuent inventor whose latest brainstorm, a feasible umbrella substitute, has been featured in many magazines. As simply as the eye can discern, it is a hard plastic strip, about the size of a ruler, which fits comfortably into a woman's handbag or a man's suit jacket. If a person is caught in a sudden rainstorm, he swings the plastic open in the shape of a cross. Attached to each arm is a clip-like device. Next, he takes the newspaper he is carrying and slides it under each of the four clips. Now, equipped with a rigid head covering he can sally forth to face the elements. To the consternation of the umbrella manufacturers, it has been enjoying a brisk sale, especially among commuters. If it continues to do well, it could have a pernicious• effect upon the umbrella industry.

Sample Sentences Fit the new words into the proper blanks.

r~EW WORDS

affluent ar 10 ;,nt

feasible re· za ool

discern d;, zero' or d;, sem.

sally sar e

consternation kon · st;,r mi · sh~n

1. Some prisoners planned a disturbance while others would ------ toward the gate.

2. Under duress• from the tax officer, the beggar admitted that he was truly

3. To the ______ of the sergeant, there was a paucity* of volunteers for the dangerous mission.

4. It's ______ to build an electric auto, but wouldn't you need a terribly long extension cord?

5. When we could ______ the city lights, we knew we were safe at last.


6. affluent a. suddenly rush forth

7. feasible b. possible

8. discern c. dismay

9. sally (v.) d. rich

10. consternation e. perceive•

TooAY's IDIOM

I'm from Missouri-a skeptic, one who is not easily convinced You might swallow his promises, but I'm from Missouri.


NEW WORDS

precocious prt ko· sh~s

perfunctory ~r fungk· t~r e

chagrin sh~ grin·

perverse p~r vers·

deride di rid'

PATENT PENDING My buddy Verne, a precocious automotive wizard, and I were inspired to do some inventing on our own. We thought it might be feasible* to park a car parallel to a space on the street. Then, by pressing a button, we could raise the four tires off the ground slightly, while dropping two special wheels perpendicular to the curb. It would then be child's play to roll into the narrowest of parking spaces. We took the idea to Ed Greene who runs the Ford agency in order to elicit* his reaction. Afte~ a perfunctory glance at our plans, to our chagrin Ed snorted that our idea was inane,* but we decided that he was just jealous of our brilliance. Tomorrow we are going to start on a computer that will enable us to measure the intelligence of perverse automobile dealers who like to deride the efforts of junior geniuses.

Sample Sentences Use the clues above to help find the proper words.

1. The children in Shakespeare's plays are so ______ that they all sound like grandparents.

2. Edith gave only ______ attention to the new millennium, skipping our New Year's Eve party.

3. The Wright brothers didn't become distraught* when a skeptic would _____ _ their work.

4. When I correct my kid brother's math errors. he is ______ enough to insist that he is right.

5. To the of many taxpayers, some citizens seem to cheat the government with impunity.*


6. precocious

7. perfunctory

8. chagrin

9. perverse

10. deride

a. done without care, superficial

b. reaching maturity early

c. feeling of disappointment, humiliation

d. contrary, persisting in error

e. to ridicule, scoff* at

TODAY'S IDIOM

red-letter day-day of happiness, time for rejoicing (holidays are red-letter days on our calendars)

My red-letter day came when I was chosen as senior class president.


WEEK 6 •:• DAY J NEW WORDS

HOLD THAT NOBEL PRIZE! Speaking of inventions and discoveries, I just learned that an eminent• scientist in Ohio has developed a pill that contains all the nutritive value of three complete meals. In addition to providing us with the vitamins and minerals we need daily, this pill also gives a feeling of fullness. According to its sponsors, the pill will nourish and satisfy. I hate to disparage such a laudable achievement, but to me it seems like a most objectionable discovery. Rather than a scientific triumph, I'd be inclined to label it as an egregious• blunder, a scientific disaster, a laboratory fiasco. Is there anyone in his right mind who thinks that a pill can replace the pleasures of devouring hot corn bread, masticating on a thick steak, biting into crisp french fries, or attacking a chocolate sundae? I'm afraid that this is one pill I'll have to eschew from chewing.

Sample Sentences Insert the new words in the following sentences.

disparage dis par' ij

laudable Iod';) ool

fiasco leas'ko

masticate mas, t;) kat

eschew es chO.'

1. The paradox• is that Javert's inexorable* pursuit of Jean Valjean was both ______ and despicable.

2. The affluent• storeowner the efforts of his small competitor, saying that he could always tolerate• that kind of rivalry.

3. To aid in digestion, you must ______ each piece of meat one dozen times.

4. In an acrimonious• letter, her father described the project as a complete

5. Once he sought the limelight, but now he ______ all interviews.


6. disparage

7. laudable

8. fiasco

9. masticate

10. eschew

a. to discredit, belittle*

b. avoid

c. to chew up

d. praiseworthy

e. complete failure

TODAY'S IDIOM

to let sleeping dogs lie-to let well enough alone, to avoid stirring up old hostilities

The lawyer wanted to open up the old case, but his partner advised him to let sleeping dogs lie.


NEW WORDS

quell kwel

voluble vol' ii b~t

confidant( e) kon' r~ dant'

obsolescence ob' sales' ns

dubious du' be ~s


PERFECT PRODUCTS I guess we'll never be able to quell those persistent rumors about the invention of auto tires that will never wear out, stockings that cannot tear, and pens that won't run dry. A voluble economist informed me that such products will never be marketed. "Can you imagine," he asked, "a manufacturer cutting his own throat? Why would he sell you an item that you will never have to replace? No," my confidant whispered, "it's part of their scheme of planned obsolescence to sell you merchandise with a limited life span in order to keep you coming back for more." I am dubious about the existence of those perfect products, but then I'm from Missouri.*

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the proper blanks.

1. When the duplicity* was revealed, the jury became ______ about Ed's innocence.

2. In order to the riot, the police sallied* forth with tear gas.

3. A teenage boy's father should be his true _____ _

4. The built into many products could be regarded as a flagrant* insult toward the duped* consumer.

5. I could not doze in the chair because of the barber.

Definitions Play the familiar matching game.

6. quell a. one to whom you confide your secrets

7. voluble b. talkative

8. confidant(e) c. process of wearing out

9. obsolescence d. put an end to

10. dubious e. doubtful

TODAY'S IDIOM

thumb's down-signal of rejection (Roman emperors could condemn a gladiator who fought poorly by turning their thumbs down)

My father turned thumbs down on our plan to hitchhike to Florida during Easter.


REVIEW

After reading about these new ideas, you should be inventive enough to handle this review. If there is a necessity for it, you may turn back to the original lesson to check on the meaning of a word. As someone once remarked, "Necessity is the mother of invention."

Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. affluent a. 2. chagrin b. 3. confidant(e) c. 4. consternation d. 5. dertde e. 6. discern f. 7. disparage g. 8. dubious h. 9. eschew i.

10. feasible j. 11. fiasco k. 12. laudable I. 13. masticate m. 14. obsolescence n. 15. perfunctory o. 16. perverse p. 17. precocious q. 18. quell r. 19. sally s. 20. voluble t.

IDIOMS 21. I'm from Missourt 22. red-letter day 23. let sleeping dogs lie 24. thumbs down

Now check your answers on page 297. Make a record of those words you missed. Study them, work on them, use them in original sentences. Amaze your friends at parties!

careless dread, dismay to chew complete failure reaching maturtty early talkative practicable to make fun of contrary wealthy keep away from recognize crush, stop to discredit person you tell your secrets to disappointment uncertain commendable sudden rushing forth process of wearing out

u. occasion for rejoicing v. I have to be convinced w. don't rake up old grtevances x. to signal rejection


1. ----------------

2. ----------------

3. ----------------

4. ----------------

5. ----------------

MEANINGS

37

WORDSEARCH 6

38


Trouble at Truman High It was a quiet morning at Harry S Truman High School. "Too quiet," Principal Edna Suarez remarked to her secretary. "It's just when things are this serene that I start to get an uneasy feeling."

Mrs. Suarez's sensitivity to life among 3,000 teenagers quickly proved to be accurate. The first evidence of trouble came with a phone call from the teacher in charge of the cafeteria who needed help to CD a disturbance. When Mrs. Suarez arrived on the scene, much to her ® , students were pounding on their tables, throwing food on the lunchroom floor, and making a complete ® of school regulations. It took the principal only a moment to @ who the two ringleaders were and to summon them to her office.

Vincent, 16, and Elena, 15, admitted to having stirred up the protest. They gave as their reasons the poor quality of food served and the dirty environment. "It's like a pigsty down there," Elena declared, "and the food is fit only for animals!"

What they had done, Mrs. Suarez told them, was inexcusable, and she ticked off a list of reasons that made their conduct dangerous and subject to school discipline. "What you were trying to do," Mrs. Suarez explained, "might be considered ® by some but you could have come to me, alone or with a committee, to register your complaints. I would have investigated and, if there was merit to your charges, would have taken the necessary action. Now I'll have to ask you to bring your parents to see me on Monday and to stay home until then."

Vincent and Elena seemed to be chastened by Mrs. Suarez's lecture. However, on leaving her office, Elena told an assistant principal that in a similar incident on a television show she learned that direct, dramatic action usually gets quicker results than lengthy debate. He advised her to bring that question up in her social studies class when she returned from suspension.

Clues

<D 4th Day

@ 1st Day

® 3rd Day

@ 1st Day

® 3rd Day



MUCH ADO ABOUT A HAIRCUT Perhaps you read about our school in the newspapers? We were one of the first to have a showdown on the topic of long hair for boys. Two honor students, Ron Harris and Len Chester, were sent to the principal by their French teacher, an implacable foe of nonconformists, who went into a paroxysm of anger when she spied the boys in the hall. At first it seemed like a simple case. The school would reprimand* the boys for their reprehensible appearance and order them to cut their hair or be suspended. But the boys' parents decided that the school had overstepped its jurisdiction; they took their case to the newspapers. What had started as a local skirmish now began to take on the appearance of a full-scale war.


NEW WORDS

implacable tm pia' ke ool

paroxysm par' ~k siz ~m

reprehensible rep' ri hen'~ b~l

jurisdiction JOr' is dik' sh~n

skirmish sker'mish

1. The detective was ______ in his search for the murder weapon.

2. Saying that it was beyond his , Judge Klein refused to rule on the case.

3. In a of rage, the tenant stormed out of the landlord's office.

4. The precocious• boy enjoyed an intellectual with his elders.

5. The brash* student was forced to apologize for her ______ conduct.


6. implacable

7. paroxysm

8. reprehensible

9. jurisdiction

1 0. skirmish


a. a fit, sudden outburst

b. cannot be pacified, inexorable*

c. small fight, brief encounter

d. worthy of blame

e. power, range of authority

TODAY'S IDIOM

cause celi~bre--a famous law case or controversy

It was a minor dispute, but the ambitious lawyer sought to turn it into a cause celebre.

39

NEw WoRDS

harass har· ;,s or h;, ~s·

monolithic mon· lith' ik

arbitrary ru-· \);) trer· e indigent in· d;, j~nt

fray fni


THE TEMPEST SPILLS OUT OF THE TEAPOT Once the newspapers got the story, the case of the longhairs became a cause celebre.* Ron and Len were interviewed, seen on 'IV, and regarded by their fellow students as heroes. 'These are not delinquents or hoods," one reporter wrote, "but cleancut American boys who are being harassed by a monolithic school system." A caustic* editorial referred to the school's decision as arbitrary and inane.* A false story even circulated about the boys being rock-'n-roll performers whose indigent families needed their salaries. Finally, the Civil Uberties Union jumped into the .fray with a court order stipulating* that the principal be required to show cause why the boys should not be allowed to return to class.


1. After the ______ , the feuding families agreed to patch up their differences.

2. The client was surprised when she was accosted* by her social worker in the elegant restaurant.

3. To my mind the decision was unreasonable and _____ _

4. George Orwell's 1984 depicts a frightening, ______ government.

5. If anonymous telephone callers you, the phone company will give you an unlisted number.


6. harass a. based on whim, dictatorial

7. monolithic b. poor, needy

8. indigent c. massively solid

9. arbitrary d. a fight

10. fray e. to trouble, torment

TODAY'S IDIOM

one swallow does not make a summer-don't jump to conclusions based on incomplete evidence

"Sure, the Yankees won their opening game, but one swallow does not make a summer."

40 ANSWERS ARE ON PACE 297

HAIRCUT DILEMMA The school authorities were stymied. Public opinion had been marshaled against them. No longer was it a simple case of disciplining two wayward lads. Suddenly it had taken on the appearance of a nightmare in which the principal was either hanged In effigy or pictured in cartoons making a villainous swipe at the two innocent Samsons. But the officials could not allow Ron and Len to flout their authority with impunity. • Members of the school board concurred* with the principal's action but they were cognizant of the popular support for the boys. Clearly a compromise was called for to resolve the turbulent situation.

NEW WORDS

stymie su· me

effigy ef aje

flout flout

cognizant kog· na zant

turbulent ter· bya lant

Sample Sentences In which of the following newspaper headlines do the new words belong?

1. "COACH OF LOSING TEAM HANGED IN-----

2. "CAUSE OF CANCER CONTINUES TO----- DOCTORS"

3. "F.B.I. OF CLANDESTINE* GANGLAND MEETING"

4. "MANY MOTORISTS TRAFFIC LAWS, STUDY REVEALS"

5. " _____ ATMOSPHERE IN ANGRY SENATE CHAMBER"


6. stymie

7. effigy

8. flout

9. cognizant

1 0. turbulent

a. unruly, agitated

b. to hinder, impede

c. show contempt, scoff*

d. aware

e. a likeness (usually of a hated person)

TooAY's IDIOM

a bitter pill to swallow-a humiliating defeat

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the famous b1lllard player to be overwhelmed by the 12-year-old girl.


NEW WORDS

terminate ter· md nat

forthwith forth· with·

exacerbate eg zas· dr bat

revert ri vert'

oust oust


HAPPY ENDING? Following an executive session, the school board ordered the principal to terminate the suspension and to send the boys back to class forthwith. Unless it could be shown that their presence disrupted the learning process, there was no reason to bar the boys. It was a bitter pill to swallow* for the principal whose irritation was exacerbated by the ruling. But some of the sting was taken out of the victory when the boys appeared in school the next day with their hair clipped to a respectable length. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Just as things were about to revert to normalcy, however, the same French teacher then demanded that a girl be ousted from school for wearing a mini skirt.


1. It seemed incongruous• to ______ his employment just when he was so successful.

2. Upon seeing the show, he called the 1V studio ______ to protest.

3. The ushers moved with alacrity* to ______ the disorderly patrons.

4. Mter taking the drug, she began to to the days of her childhood.

5. The arrest of the spy did much to relations between the two countries.


6. terminate

7. forthwith

8. exacerbate

9. revert

10. oust

42

a. to drive out, eject

b. return

c. to end

d. immediately

e. to irritate, make worse

TODAY'S IDIOM

an ax to grind-having a selfish motive in the background

I am always dubious• about the motives of a man who tells me that he has no ax to grind.


REVIEW

Pupils want to be individuals these days, and many of them refuse to conform to regulations unless there are good reasons for such rules. In the area of vocabulary study, however, the only rule that makes sense to all is that true mastery derives from continuous practice.

Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer spaces. (Which two review words are almost synonymous?)

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. arbitrary a. having a massive structure 2. cognizant b. to hinder 3. effigy c. a conflict, fight 4. exacerbate d. relentless, unappeasable 5. flout e. immediately 6. forthwith f. blameworthy 7. fray g. range of authority 8. harass h. to show contempt 9. implacable i. poverty-stricken

1 0. indigent j. to irritate 11. jurisdiction k. violent outburst 12. monolithic I. to end 13. oust m. a likeness 14. paroxysm n. go back 15. reprehensible o. to torment 16. revert p. riotous 17. skirmish q. eject 18. stymie r. small battle 19. terminate s. aware 20. turbulent t. based on whim

IDIOMS 21. cause celebre u. having a selfish motive 22. one swallow doesn't make a summer v. a humiliating defeat 23. bitter pill to swallow w. don't jump to conclusions 24. an ax to grind x. famous law case


Now check your answers on 1. --------page 297. Make a record of

those words you missed. 2. --------

Note: fray and skirmish are almost synonymous. 3. --------

4. --------

5. ---------------

MEANINGS

43

WORDSEARCH 7

44


The Heading of the Will One full week after the funeral, the immediate family of millionaire Charles Hudson was gathered in a law office to hear the reading of the deceased's will. Mr. Hudson's wife, thirty years his junior, was prepared for a bitter <D with his former wife and her son. The lawyer, Don Rollins, anticipated a ® session because he was the only one who was ® of the contents of the revised will that Hudson had ordered drawn up six months prior to his death.

The current Mrs. Hudson, attired in her smart widow's weeds, expected that she would receive the lion's share of the estate. The former Mrs. Hudson felt that she was entitled to most of the estate since she was practically @ at the present time, despite her substantial alimony payments.

Lawyer Rollins cleared his throat and began to read:

"To my present spouse I leave my town house where she can continue to store the jewels, shoes, dresses, and furs she accumulated in two years of shopping and marriage.

"To my son, who has put off fmding a career until my estate would enrich him, I leave the sum of ten dollars for cab fare to the unemployment office.

"To my former wife whose ® behavior I tolerated for three decades, I leave my beach house where she can continue to work on her tan, something that she prized above our happiness.

"To the Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals I leave the remainder of my entire estate, knowing they will put it to better use than anyone in this room."

The lawyer was wrong. No outcries. Silence, supreme silence, reigned among the shocked audience.

Cl1.1.:s

CD 1st Day

® 3rd Day

® 3rd Day

@ 2nd Day

® 1st Day



ENTER DR. THOMAS A. DOOLEY In 1956, Look Magazine named Thomas Dooley as one of the year's ten most outstanding men. Just under thirty years of age at the time, Dr. Dooley had already distinguished himself by caring for a half-million sick and emaciated Vietnamese refugees. When fighting broke out in the divided count.Iy of Viet Nam, the northern Communist Viet Minh forces surged southward, scattering thousands of refugees before them. At the time, Dr. Dooley was a lieutenant, assigned to a tranquil naval hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. Forthwith* he volunteered for duty on a navy ship that had been chosen to transport the refugees to sanctuary in Saigon. The curtain was beginning to ascend on Dooley's real career.


NEW WORDS

emaciated i rna· she a tid

surge serj

tr~nquil trang' kw~l

sanctuary sangk · chO er· i

ascend ~send'

1. The residents of the Warsaw Ghetto managed to win several skirmishes* from the Nazis.

2. A firecracker terminated* the ______ climate of the neighborhood.

3. When Richard III violated the of the church to seize the princes, he exceeded his jurisdiction.*

4. Chicago put its heaviest players up front, but they were helpless as the Giants' line ___________ toward them.

5. Inexorably* the determined climber began to ___________ the Himalayan peak.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

emaciated a. to rush suddenly

surge b. shelter

tranquil c. quiet

sanctuary d. abnormally thin, wasted away

ascend e. to rise

JODAY'S IDIOM

sour grapes-to disparage* something that you cannot have (from Aesop's fable about the fox who called the grapes sour because he could not reach them) Marcia said that she didn't want to be on the Principal's Honor Roll

anyway, but we knew that it was just sour grapes on her part.


NEW WORDS

WEEK 8 •!• DAY 2 malnutrition mal' nii trlsh' ~n

afflict ~ flikt'

besiege bi sej'

privation pri va' sh~n

sinister sin'~ st~r

DOOLEY'S MISSION Aboard the refugee ship, Dooley's destiny took shape. He became painfully cognizant* of the malnutrition, disease, ignorance, and fear that afflicted the natives. In addition, he discerned* how active the Communists had been in spreading their anti-American propaganda. Tom Dooley pitched in to build shelters in Haiphong, and to comfort the poor Vietnamese there before that besieged city fell to the powerful Viet Minh forces. He was seemingly unconcerned by the many privations he had to endure. For his services, Dooley received the U.S. Navy's Legion of Merit. He told the story- of this exciting experience in Deliver Us from Evil a best seller that alerted America to the plight of the Vietnamese as well as to the sinister menace of communism.


1. The stool pigeon, the detective's confidant,* told him about the plot.

2. By running up a white flag, the troops indicated their desire to withdraw from the fray.*

3. Citizens of several Kentucky mountain communities are ______ by the worst poverty in the nation.

4. The emaciated* prisoners were obviously suffering from advanced _____ _

5. Albert Schweitzer endured considerable as a jungle doctor.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

46

malnutrition a. lack of necessities

afflict

besiege

privation

sinister

b. faulty or inadequate diet

c. evil, ominous

d. to surround, hem in

e. to trouble greatly, to distress

TODA.Y'S IDIOM

to swap horses in midstream-to vote against a candidate running for reelection, to change one's mind

The mayor asked for our support, pointing out how foolish it would be to swap horses in midstream.


STYMIED* BY PERSONAL SICKNESS Mter an extensive lecture tour in 1956, Dr. Dooley returned to Laos to set up a mobile medical unit. Because the Geneva Agreement barred the entrance of military personnel to the country, he resigned from the Navy and went to work as a civilian. That story is told in The Edge of Tomorrow. Next year. despite a growing illness, the ubiquitous Dooley turned up in the remote village of Muong Sing, attempting to thwart his traditional enemies-disease. dirt, ignorance, starvation-and hoping to quell* the spread of communism. But his trained medical eye soon told him that the pain in his chest and back was a harbinger of a malignant cancer.


NEW WORDS

ubiquitous yii bik' w~ las

remote ri mot'

thwart thwart

harbinger har' ban jar

malignant rna lig' nant

1. Sprinting all over the court, the ______ referee called one foul after another.

2. Ben's reprehensible* table manners led his fraternity brothers to seat him in a ______ corner of the dining room.

3. The excellent soup was a of the delicious meal to follow.

4. In an attempt to the voracious* ants. he surrounded his house with a moat of burning oil.

5. The surgeon finally located the tumor that had afflicted* his patient for many months.


6. ubiquitous a. distant. hidden away

7. remote b. being everywhere at the same time

8. thwart c. likely to cause death

9. harbinger d. to hinder, defeat

10. malignant e. a forerunner, advance notice

TODAY'S IDIOM

to cool one's heels-to be kept waiting

The shrewd mayor made the angry delegates cool their heels in his outer office.



excruciating ek skrii' she a ting

respite res' pit

reverberating ri ver' b~ rcit' ing

fretful fret' f~l

succumb ~kum'

"PROMISES TO KEEP" From August, 1959 until his death in January, 1961, Dooley suffered almost continuous, excruciating pain. His normal weight of 180 was cut in half, and even the pain-killing drugs could no longer bring relief. Knowing that he did not have long to live, Dr. Dooley worked without respite on behalf of MEDICO, the organization he had founded to bring medical aid and hope to the world's sick and needy. The lines of Robert Frost kept reverberating in Ws mind during those freiful days: 'The woods are lovely, dark and deep/ But I have promises to keep I And miles to go before I sleep." When he finally succumbed. millions throughout the world were stunned and grief-stricken by the tragedy.


1. With ______ slowness, the minute hand inched its way around the clock.

2. The rescue team heard the miner's voice ______ through the caves.

3. Around income tax time faces are ubiquitous. •

4. The voluble* insurance salesman gave my father no _____ _

5. Besieged* by debts, the corporation finally had to to bankruptcy.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

48

excruciating a. an interval of relief, delay

respite b. worrisome, irritable

reverberating c. reechoing, resounding

fretful d. agonizing, torturing

succumb e. to give way, yield

TODAY'S IDIOM

a red herring-something that diverts attention from the main issue (a red herring drawn across a fox's path destroys the scent)

We felt that the introduction of his war record was a red herring to keep us from inquiring into his graft.


REVIEW

Shortly before his death, Dr. Dooley was selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of America's ten most outstanding young men. There may be no connection between success of that type and an expanded vocabulary-but one never knows. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. afflict a. lack of necessities 2. ascend b. inadequate diet 3. besiege c. being everywhere at once 4. emaciated d. to trouble greatly 5. excruciating e. agonizing 6. fretful f. wasted away 7. harbinger g. distant 8. malignant h. evil 9. malnutrition i. to rush suddenly

1 0. privation j. place of protection 11. remote k. forerunner 12. respite I. to rise 13. reverberating m. to hinder 14. sanctuary n. yield 15. sinister o. postponement 16. succumb p. to surround 17. surge q. becoming progressively worse 18. thwart r. reechoing 19. tranquil s. worrisome 20. ubiquitous t. peaceful

IDIOMS 21. sour grapes u. a diversion 22. swap horses in midstream v. to be kept waiting 23. to cool one's heels w. to change one's mind 24. a red herring x. claiming to despise what you cannot have

Now check your answers on


page 297. Make a record of 1. ________ _ those words you missed.

2. ---------

3.

4. ----------

5. ----------

MEANINGS

49


50

• ••• Underline the word that makes sense in each of the sentences below.

1. Eric was (a.fflicted, besieged) with an inoperable ailment.

2. The octogenarian refused to (succumb. surge) to pneumonia.

3. The (remote, ubiquitous) mayor was photographed in four different parts of the city yesterday.

4. We were worried lest the hostages be suffering from (sanctuary, malnutrition).

5. The (tranquU, sinister) tone of the spring morning was suddenly broken by the loud explosion.

6. I heard his voice (excruciating, reverberating) through the corridors.

7. The senator's bid for a second term was (thwarted, respited) by the electorate.

8. After the king's death, his son (ascended, succumbed) to the throne in the normal order of succession.

9. The (privations, harbingers) that the poor people endured in their ghetto apartments were reprehensible.

1 0. The children were (emaciated, .fretjUl) when awakened from their nap.

11. We were asked to (swap horses in midstream, cool our heels) while waiting for the bus.


PARTS OF SPEECH (From Weeks 2-8)

•:• Choose the noun, verb, or adjective that answers each of the questions and write the corresponding letter in the appropriate answer space.

a. affluent b. arbitrary c. avid d. cajole e. elicit f. euphemism g. fray h. harbinger i. indigent j. precocious k. pugnacious I. reprimand m. skirmish n. sour grapes o. wrest

1. Which noun tells you that something is on the way?

2. Which verb means to extract, to get something out oj?

3. Which adjective describes an action that is based on a whim?

4. Which adjective tells you about children who are very bright for their age?

5. If a wealthy family moved into your neighborhood, which adjective would be suitable for them?

6. Which adjective can be substituted for enthusiastic?

7. If you had to coax someone into doing something, which verb would be appropriate?

8. When we call a garbage collector a sanitary engineer; which noun comes to mind?

9. In seizing control, which verb is appropriate?

1 0. Which adjective describes a combative, quarrelsome person?

11. Which verb is a good synonym for scold?

12. What do you indulge in when you belittle that which you cannot possess?

13. Which adjective describes a poverty-stricken person?

14. Which two nouns are almost synonymous?


WORDSEARCH 8

52

•!• Using the clues listed below, ffil in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Aftermath of an Earthquake The Egyptian earthquake in October 1992 killed 600 residents of

Cairo and hospitalized thousands of others, many of whom were expected to

CD as a result of their injuries. Especially hard hit were the people

who inhabited the city's slums, who had to seek ® in those

government buildings, schools, and factories that remained standing.

Muslim fundamentalists were active in providing relief to the survivors in the

form of food, water, blankets, and tents to house the more than 300 families

made homeless by the disaster. In the midst of a rubble-strewn street, a large

tent was set up, bearing the banner, "Islam is the Solution." Believers took

the opportunity to spread the message that the earthquake was a -=@'----

of worse things to come, and that a wayward population must follow God's

laws if they expected to @ to heaven.

Throughout history, following volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tidal waves,

and other calamities that periodically ® mankind, religious leaders

have used such occurrences to bring the people back to their faith.

"Unless we return to Allah," said a priest, "we can expect more divine

punishment."

Since many Egyptians had expressed unhappiness about their government

prior to the earthquake, there was a good chance for Muslim fundamentalists

to seize the opportunity to win new converts by showing that the answer to

recovery was not through man's efforts but through God's.

Clues

Q) 4th Day

® 1st Day

@ 3rd Day

@ 1st Day

® 2nd Day



JUST SPELL THE NAME CORRECTLY P. T. Barnum, the great circus impresario, was once accosted* by a woman who showed him a scurrilous• manuscript about himself, and said that unless he paid her, she would have the book printed. Barnum rejected the extortion attempt. "Say what you please," he replied, "but make sure that you mention me in some way. Then come to me and I will estimate the value of your services as a publicity agent." Barnum obviously felt that adverse criticism was an asset for a public figure. A man who seeks the limelight should not care what is written about him but should be concerned only when they stop writing about him. Barnum's philosophy suggests that we might do well Lo review the plethora• of publicity given to rabble-rousers and bigots.


NEW WORDS

impresario tm· prn sAr· eo

extortion ek star· sh~n

adverse ad· vers

asset as· et

bigot big· ~t

1. When the business manager was accused of ______ , his colleagues sought to oust• him from the firm.

2. The eminent* brought many cultural spectacles to our shores.

3. Attacked by the irate* crowd, the asked the police for sanctuary.•

4. Judge Davis hoped to be an in his wife's campaigns for political office.

5. It was excruciatingly* painful for the actors to read the ______ reviews that their performances had received.


6. impresario a. a narrow-minded, prejudiced person

7. extortion b. unfavorable, harmful

8. adverse c. one who presents cultural series, organizer

9. asset d. a valuable thing to have

10. bigot e. getting money by threats

TODAY'S IDIOM

to spill the beans-to give away a secret

Although he was naturally reticent,* when the felon* was intimidated* by the members of the rival gang, he spilled the beans.


NEW WORDS

blatant blat' nt

entourage an· tu razh

virulent vir' ya lent

venom ven· ~m

spew spy\i


BIGOTS* GET PUBLICITY Today, the blatant bigot, the leader of a lunatic fringe, and the hate-monger, each with his tiny entourage, find it relatively easy to attract publicity. Newspapers give space to the virulent acuvitles of those agitators on the grounds that they are newsworthy. 1V producers and radio executives, seeking for sensationalism, often extend a welcome to such controversial characters. "Yes," said the host of one such program, "we invite bigots, but it is only for the purpose of making them look r;idiculous by displaying their inane• policies to the public." Some civic-minded organizations have answered, however, that the hosts are not always equipped to demolish those guests, and even if they were, the audience would still be exposed to the venom they spew forth.


1. The visiting dictator's ubiquitous• ______ of bodyguards disturbed our tranquil* city.

2. Europe's population was afflicted* by a ______ plague known as the Black Death.

3. From each candidate's headquarters acrimonious• charges would _____ _ forth daily.

4. Clym Yeobright's mother succumbed* to the of a snake bite.

5. With discourtesy the reporters continued to harass* the bereaved family.


6. blatant a. group of attendants

7. entourage b. disagreeably loud, very showy

8. virulent

9. venom

10. spew

54

c. poison, spite, malice

d. throw up, vomit, eject

e. full of hate, harmful

TODAY'S IDIOM

to keep a stiff upper lip-to be courageous in the face of trouble

It was admirable to see how the British managed to keep a stiff upper lip in spite of the German bombing.


WEEK 9 •!• DAY J

COPING WITH BIGOTS* Suppose a bigot wished to organize a meeting in your neighborhood. Since we cherish freedom of speech, we are loath to deny the request, even if he preaches hatred. As a result, hate-mongers are given the opportunity to rent halls, conduct meetings, publish abusive literature, and solicit contributions. What can be done about them? One astute observer, Prof. S. Andhil Fineberg, advocates the "quarantine method." His plan is to give such groups no publicity and to ignore them completely. Without the warmth of the spotlight, he feels that the bigot will freeze and become ineffectual. Debating with such warped minds is not feasible* and only tends to exacerbate* the situation.


NEW WORDS

loath loth

solicit SC' lis' it

astute ~ stiit' or ~ styiit'

advocate ad' va kat

ineffectual in'~ fek' chii

1. Since we felt that the ruling was arbitrary,* we were ______ to obey it.

2. Daily the volunteers went out to funds for the indigent* families.

3. My neighbor was enough to discern* the adverse* features of the mortgage.

4. The general was sure to that we give the enemy no respite* from the bombings.

5. The play was so blatantly* bad that the impresario* fired its ______ director.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. loath

7. solicit

8. astute

9. advocate (v.)

10. ineffectual

a. keen, shrewd

b. to be in favor of, to support

c. not effective

d. unwilling, reluctant

e. to beg, seek earnestly

TODAY'S IDIOM

to have cold feet-to hesitate because of fear or uncertainty My cousin was all set to join the paratroops,

but at the last moment he got coldfeet.


NEW WORDS

WEEK 9 •:• DAY 4 scrutinize skrOt' n iz

nefarious ni fer' e ~s

amicable am·~~ hal

vexatious vek sa.' sh~s

malady mal'~ de

MORE THAN SILENCE The quarantine method for handling bigots implies more than giving them the silent treatment. Prof. Fineberg urges community-relations organizations to scrutinize the nefarious activities of hate-mongers and to be prepared to furnish information about them to amicable inquirers. When a rabble-rouser is coming, those organizations should privately expose him to opinion-molders. In addition, constructive efforts should be taken to induce people to involve themselves in projects for improving intergroup relations. Bigger than the vexatious immediate problem is the need to find out the cause for such bigotry and to counteract this sinister* malady that afflicts a segment of our society.


1. The buzzing of the mosquitoes as they surged* about our heads nearly drove us insane.

2. Our relations with Latin America are an asset* to hemispheric trade.

3. Once the virulent* ______ had run its course. my temperature dropped.

4. We were distraught* upon hearing the venom* spewed* forth by the _____ _ bigot. •

5. No sooner did the lawyer ______ the extortion* note than she called the police.


6. scrutinize

7. nefarious

8. amicable

9. vexatious

10. malady

a. annoying

b. villainous, vicious

c. examine closely

d. disease

e. friendly, peaceful

TODAY'S IDIOM

to look a gift horse in the mouth-to be critical of a present (from the practice of judging a horse's age by his teeth)

Although I didn't have much use for Uncle Roy's present, I took it with a big smile since I have been taught never to look a gift horse in the mouth.



There is an excellent book entitled How to Argue with a Conservative that gives the reader the tools necessary for success in argumentation. At times you may have to engage in a verbal skirmish* with a bigot.* It would be to your advantage if you had the proper words at your fingertips. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. adverse a. to support 2. advocate b. keen, shrewd 3. amicable c. something of value 4. asset d. villainous 5. astute e. seek earnestly 6. bigot f. organizer 7. blatant g. annoying 8. entourage h. followers 9. extortion i. disagreeably loud

10. impresario j. examine closely 11. ineffectual k. poison 12. loath I. harmful 13. malady m. not effective 14. nefarious n. prejudiced person 15. scrutinize o. unfavorable 16. solicit p. friendly 17. spew q. unwilling 18. venom r. vomit 19. vexatious s. disease 20. virulent t. getting money by threats

IDIOMS 21. to sptll the beans u. to be critical of a present 22. stiff upper lip v. hesitation because of fear 23. cold feet w. courage in the face of trouble 24. look a gift horse in the mouth x. give away a secret

Now check your answers on page 298. Make a record of those words you missed. Once again, use those words in original sentences.


1.

2.

3.

4.

5. -----------------

MEANINGS

57

WORDSEARCH 9

58


This Century~ Deadliest Disease

When the American public started to hear about the AIDS virus in the 1980s,

there was a measure of concern but no real alarm. After all, some said, it was

a problem solely for a small group of intravenous drug users who shared dirty

needles, and for the homosexual community.

But as the numbers of afflicted people grew during the 1980s and 1990s, we

began to CD the tragic news stories more closely. The deaths of

young people like Ryan White and Kimberly Bergalis, not members of the at

risk groups referred to above, convinced us that what was at first regarded

merely as a @ illness was actually a ® threat to the

general community.

In the mid-1980s, ® medical researchers were optimistic that a

vaccine for AIDS would be found in short order. Those predictions proved to

be inaccurate. In October 1992, former Surgeon-General C. Everett Koop said

that he doubted we would ever find a cure for the disease. With over 200,000

Americans already having succumbed to the ® killer, and another

300,000 who were HIV-positive and could contract a full-blown form of AIDS,

Koop's statement sent chills throughout the country.

A prominent AIDS ex-pert, however, tobk issue with Koop. ''The fight will be

difficult," said Dr. Harley Smith, "but we will find an answer very shortly."

Now, in the twenty-first century, the answer has not yet been found.

Clues

CD 4th Day

® 4th Day

® 2nd Day

@ 3rd Day

® 4th Day


WEEK 1 0 •!• DAY 1

JERRY HART'S SIXTH SENSE An uneasy feeling had made Jerry Hart miserable all day long. It was difficult to explain, but the similar sensations in the past had been accurate-trouble was on the way. Just as some people can predict the onset of inclement weather because of an aching in their bones, so could Jerry .detect incipient* disaster. He sat at his desk, trying to peruse a company report but his efforts were ineffectual.* The gnawing at his insides, the tinge• of uneasiness, the premonition of calamity that besieged* him would not desist. When the phone rang, he recoiled with fear-it was his wife and she was hysterical. Their son had been bitten by a mad dog!


NEW WORDS

inclement in Idem' =tnt

peruse P=- ruz'

premonition pre· m=- nish • =tn

desist di ztst'

recoil rt koil'

1. After being admonished* by his father, he began to the want ads daily.

2. When the black cat crossed her path, Ellen had a of disaster.

3. The pickets promulgated* a warning that they would not in their efforts to enhance* their standard of living.

4. As the snake prepared to strike, the girls in horror.

5. She blamed her absence from the game on the weather, but we knew that was sour grapes.*


6. inclement

7. peruse

8. premonition

9. desist

10. recoil

a. unfavorable, stormy

b. to read carefully

c. cease

d. forewarning

e. draw back

TODAY'S IDIOM

to pay the piper-to bear the consequences (from the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin)

The cruel leader was doing well at the present time, but he knew that one day he might have to pay the piper.


NEW WORDS

pertinent pert' n ant

mastiff mas' tif

obsess ab ses'

doleful dot· fal

wan won

WEEK 1 0 •:• DAY 2

CRISIS! As soon as Jerry Hart could get the pertinent facts from his wife, he dashed out of the office on his way home. He jostled • people in the hallway, implored* the elevator operator to huny, and with flagrant• disregard for an elderly gentleman jumped into the cab he had hailed. The twenty-minute taxi ride seemed interminable* and all the while horrible thoughts occurred to Jerry. Visions of an ugly mastiff with foaming jaws obsessed him. A crowd of people had gathered in front of his house so that Jerry had to force his way through them. Little Bobby was on his bed, surrounded by a doctor, a policeman, Jerry's doleful wife, his two daughters, and a half-dozen wan neighbors.


1. The stockbroker was ______ with the idea of becoming a painter.

2. My nervous neighbor bought a pugnacious• ______ to frighten burglars.

3. ______ expressions abounded* throughout headquarters on the night of the election.

4. During the trial the astute• lawyer was able to elicit* the ______ information from the key witness.

5. Mter the tension, his normally ruddy face was ______ and tired.


6. pertinent a. sad, melancholy

7. mastiff b. to the point

8. obsess c. sickly pale

9. doleful d. to haunt, preoccupy

10. wan e. large dog

TODAY'S IDIOM

on the carpet-being scolded

Because of her repeated lateness, Betty's boss called her on the carpet.


WEEK 1 0 •!• DAY 3

A TIME FOR DECISION The doctor explained the situation calmly. avoiding histrionics. First of all, they didn't know whether the dog had rabies. Secondly, the elusive dog had frustrated all attempts to find him so far. Finally, the decision would have to be made whether Bobby was to undergo the painful vaccination administered daily for two weeks. Mrs. Hart said that a neighbor who had seen the dog claimed that it had been foaming at the mouth, barking, and growling constantly-all symptomatic of rabies. But the policeman interjected that there hadn't been a case of a mad dog in the county in over twenty years: he repudiated* the neighbor's report, advocating* that they do nothing for at least another day. Mr. and Mrs. Hart sat down to think about their next step.


NEW WoRDS

histrionics his· tre on· tks

elusive I to· slv

frustrate frus· trat

symptomatic simp· t~ mat· ik

interject in· t.,r

1. The warden ______ the prisoners' attempt to escape by adding more guards.

2. Most viewers hate it when a commercial is ______ into a suspense drama.

3. Saying that he would not tolerate* her . the director fired the temperamental actress.

4. All his life he found happiness ______ , but wealth easy to come by.

5. The sordid* rioting was ______ of the problems facing the large cities.


6. histrionics

7. elusive

8. frustrate

9. symptomatic

10. interject


a. having to do with signs or symptoms, indicative

b. hard to grasp

c. insert, interrupt

d. display of emotions

e. counteract, foil, thwart*

TODAY'S IDIOM

to show ones hand-to reveal one's intentions When someone joined in bidding for the antique,

the dealer was forced to show his hand.

61

NEW WORDS

inert inert'

salient sa' le ant

imminent tm· a nant

squeamish skwe' mish

engrossed en grost'

WEEK 1 0 •!• DAY 4

THE PERTINENT* FACTS ABOUT RABIES "Give me some of the rudimentary* information about the disease, Doc," said Jerry, glancing toward the inertfigure of his son. "Well, as you know, the malady* used to be called 'hydrophobia' (fear of water) because one of the symptoms is an inability to swallow liquids. Actually, it is caused by a live virus from the saliva of an infected animal. If saliva gets into a bite wound, the victim may get rabies. The virus travels along the nerves to the spine and brain. Once the salient characteristics appear (ten days to six months) then death is imminent" "What are the symptoms?" asked Mrs. Hart.

"Pain and numbness, difficulty in swallowing, headaches and nervousness. Also, muscle spasms and convulsions." The squeamish neighbors who were engrossed in the doctor's remarks gasped. "I think we should go ahead with the injections," the distraught* Mrs. Hart said. "I've heard enough."


1. The senator loathed* it when people said that an atomic war was _____ _

2. When his partner complained about a lack of ethics,* the businessman laughed at his innocence.

3. in his crossword puzzle, he failed to notice the paucity* of customers in the restaurant.

4. One of the ______ features of her poetry is a dependence upon euphemisms.*

5. Seeing the ______ player, the manager dashed out onto the field.


6. inert a. outstanding, prominent

7. salient b. without power to move

8. imminent c. likely to happen, threatening

9. squeamish d. absorbed

10. engrossed e. easily shocked, over sensitive

62

TODAY'S IDIOM

to tilt at windmills-to fight imaginary enemies (from Don Quixote) The vice president told the committee, "We're really on your side,

and if you fight us you'll be tUting at windmills."


WEEK 1 0 •!• DAY 5 REVIEW

At the end of this week's study, you will have covered 200 words and 40 idioms. In addition, you will have seen many of those words used several times in subsequent lessons. If you have been operating at only 75% efficiency, you have, nevertheless, added substantially to your arsenal of words. Here's a thought: wouldn't it be wonderful if through genuine attention to the daily dosage you could move up to 80%---or even 90%? Start by matching the 20 words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space. Did somebody say 1 00%?

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. desist a. 2. doleful b. 3. elusive c. 4. engrossed d. 5. frustrate e. 6. histrionics f. 7. imminent g. 8. inclement h. 9. inert i.

1 0. interject j. 11. mastiff k. 12. obsess I. 13. pertinent m. 14. peruse n. 15. premonition o. 16. recoil p. 17. salient q. 18. squeamish r. 19. symptomatic s. 20. wan t.

IDIOMS 21 . to pay the piper 22. on the carpet 23. to show one's hand 24. to tilt at windmills

Now check your answers on page 298. Make a record of those words you missed.

sad draw back foil cease interrupt stormy, harsh indicative appropriate powerless to move large dog outstanding read carefully preoccupy easily shocked forewarning about to happen hard to grasp pale absorbed display of emotions

u. to reveal one's emotions v. being scolded w. fight imaginary enemies x. to bear the consequences

WORDS FOR FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

63

WORDSEARCH 10

64


The Potato that Strangled Idaho People who are CD about the sight of blood or @ in horror

from most forms of violence would do well to avoid some of the movies now

being shown at their local cinemas. Producers have learned ·that films that

scare the patrons out of their seats, ironically, put millions of fans into those

seats, keeping them ® in the goose pimple-inducing spectacles that

flash across the screen.

Of course, each movie carries with it a rating that indicates its suitability for

certain age groups, either because of its subject matter, language,

presentation, or level of violence. Pictures with a "G" rating are approved for

all audiences. while. at the other end of the scale. those that are given an "X"

rating are for adults only with no children allowed under any circumstance.

Getting an "R" rating indicates that the movie is restricted (no one under 18

admitted without an adult) but some Hollywood moguls consider the "R" to

be the magnet that insures box office success. And we can be sure that as

long as shock films ring up a merry tune on the cash registers, producers will

not @ from making them.

A director who specializes in making gory films involving monsters, vampires.

and brutal serial killers boasted in a college lecture that his work was in good

taste. One student who disasgreed was provoked to ® that in his

opinion the diet of "shock-schlock" movies was in worse taste than those

pictures that contained vulgar language and nudity. "At least they're honest,"

he declared.

Clues

CD 4th Day

® lst Day

@ 4th Day

@ lst Day

® 3rd Day



THE SEARCH FOR THE DOC (CONTINUED) Meanwhile, the Harts had notified the local radio stations to broadcast a poignant appeal for the dog's owner to come fmward. The station was inundated with phone calls but all leads were fruitless. From what Bobby had told them, a huge dog had leaped out from a red station wagon in the supermarket's parking lot. After biting Bobby it vanished. The six-year-old was too concerned with the bites he had received to see where the dog disappeared to. The boy's stacy was garbled. but he did remember that the animal was gray and had a collar. There was little tangible* evidence to go on, but the police remained sanguine.


NEW WORDS

poignant poi' ny~nt

inundate tn' un dit

fruitless frO.t' Us

garbled gAr' l»ld

sanguine sang·~n

1. The sermon was enough to bring tears to the brash* delinquent's eyes.

2. Although the message was . its salient* points were clear enough.

3. After a attempt to wrest* control of the government, the traitors were incarcerated.*

4. Even though his boat was almost ______ . the skipper was loath* to radio for help.

5. Because the malignancy* had gone unchecked, the surgeons were not ______ about the patient's chances.


6. inundate a. useless

7. fruitless b. confused, mixed up

8. poignant c. optimistic

9. garbled d. to flood

10. sanguine e. moving, painful to the feelings

TooAY's IDIOM

to feather one's nest-grow rich by taking advantage of circumstances While working as the tax collector, he adroitly* feathered his own nest.


NEW WORDS

phlegmatic fleg mat' ik

corroborate ka rob' a nit

comprehensive kom' prt hen' stv

zealous zel' as

coerce ko ers'


NO RELIEF The normally phlegmatic Jeny Hart was deeply upset. 1\venty-four hours had passed without result, and even if the rabies could not be corroborated, Jeny was determined to see that his son received the vaccine. At the suggestion of some friends, he organized a comprehensive search party, zealously fanning out in circles around the supermarket. They knocked on every door, inspected every dog, and came back emptyhanded. Although the Harts were sick with wony (they had to be coerced into going to sleep), little Bobby seemed to be in great spirits. The excruciating* vigil continued.


1. Harriet's egregious• error disturbed even her ______ employer.

2. The fund raiser was so ______ that he solicited* money from a Salvation Army Santa Claus.

3. In order to get the job, you had to go through the drudgery• of filling out a ten-page ______ questionnaire.

4. The elusive• fugitive was by his attorney into surrendering.

5. Even the swiildler's nefarious* accomplice refused to his alibi.


6. phlegmatic a. enthusiastic

7.

8.

9.

10.

66

corroborate b. calm, hard to rouse to action

comprehensive __ c. confirm, support

zealous

coerce

d. thorough

e. to force

TODAY'S IDIOM

Fair-weather friends-unreliable, they fail one in time of distress

The general was chagrined• to learn that so many of his supposed supporters were actually faiT-weather friends.



THE POLICE FIND THE DOG Forty hours had elapsed before the police work and the publicity paid off. By meticulously checking the registrations of every red station wagon in the neighborhood and then cross-checking dog licenses, the police narrowed the search to four owners. After a few telephone calls, the apologetic owner was located and directed to bring her muzzled German shepherd to the Hart domicile. Bobby identified the dog, and the animal was taken to a veterinary's clinic to have the necessary tests performed. The lax owner, Mrs. McGraw, admitted that the dog had a sporadic mean streak, but she scoffed* at the idea of rabies. Jerry Hart noticed for the first time in two days that his uneasy feeling had departed.


NEW WORDS

elapse 1 laps·

meticulous m~ tik' ya bs

domicile dom· ~ sil

lax laks

sporadic spa rad· ik

1. Inadvertently,* Emma had allowed two months to ______ before paying her rent.

2. The lackluster* battle was punctuated by ______ mortar fire.

3. A man's ______ is his castle.

4. Because the watchman was ______ , thievery was rampant* at the warehouse.

5. The ______ musician had nothing but disdain* for his disorganized friends.


6. elapse a. careless, negligent

7. meticulous b. to slip by

8. domicile c. occasional

9. lax d. home

10. sporadic e. careful

TODAY'S IDIOM

to sow one's wild oats-to lead a wild, carefree life

During his teen years, the millionaire avidly* sowed his wild oats.


NEw WoRDS

rash rash

conjecture k~n jek · ch~r

obviate ob' ve at lurid hir· id

quip kwip


ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL The Harts were greatly relieved to learn that the rash coryecture about the dog was not true. Because the German shepherd was not rabid, the necessity for the painful treatment was obviated. The police gave the dog's owner a summons for allowing the animal to go unmuzzled. Little Bobby was treated to an ice cream sundae and a Walt Disney double feature. The neighbors searched for other lurid happenings, and Jeny Hart went back to his office. "What kind of dog was that?" his secretary asked. "Oh, his bark was worse than his bite," quipped Jeny.


1. It was sheer ______ on the detective's part but it led to the arrest of the vexatious• counterfeiters.

2. The newspaper switched from mundane* coverage to reporting.

3. It was exceedingly of the lightweight to insult the belligerent• longshoreman.

4. The necessity for preparing sandwiches was when the picnic was postponed.

5. Hamlet remembered that Yorick was always ready with a lusty _____ _


6. rash (adj.)

7. conjecture

8. obviate

9. lurid

10. quip

68

a. do away with, eliminate

b. joke

c. guess

d. sensational

e. too hasty, reckless

TODAY'S IDIOM

windfall-unexpected financial gain

When the bankrupt company struck oil, the surprised investor received a windfall of $20,000.



Many teachers have jested about their students who confused rabies with rabbis, Jewish clergymen. We know that those who get the message of this book, true vocabulary mastery, will make few such errors. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. coerce a. 2. comprehensive b. 3. conjecture c. 4. corroborate d. 5. domicile e. 6. elapse f. 7. fruitless g. 8. garbled h. 9. inundate i.

10. lax j. 11. lurid k. 12. meticulous I. 13. obviate m. 14. phlegmatic n. 15. poignant o. 16. quip P· 17. rash q. 18. sanguine r. 19. sporadic s. 20. zealous t.

IDIOMS 21. to feather one's nest 22. fair-weather friends 23. to sow wild oats 24. windfall

Now check your answers on page 298. Make a record of those words you missed. If you were able to get them all right, use the five spaces to create antonyms for numbers 7, 8, 10, 17, and 19.

to flood, to swamp home painful to the feelings, moving useless reckless confirm calm, sluggish sensational hopeful do away with confused, mixed up guess to pass by careless occasional thorough careful to force enthusiastic to joke

u. to lead a wild life v. unexpected financial gain w. unreliable acquaintances x. provide for oneself at the expense of others


1.

2. -----------------

3.

4.

5. -----------------

MEANINGS

69

WORDSEARCH 11

70


Assuming Blunders

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for Richard Sands."

"Deliver us from evil. Lead us not into Penn Station."

Teachers who train students to memorize and then do rote recitations sometimes find that the youngsters have a <D interpretation of the actual words. Eliza Berman, an educator who is <1> about her own use of language, invited colleagues to send her examples of confusion in students' writings. Little did she realize that they would quickly _® ___ _ her letterbox with their pet mistakes. As a result, Ms. Berman was able to compile a fairly @) list of howlers that include the following:

"The inhabitants of ancient Egypt were called Mummies. They lived in the Sarah Dessert and traveled by Camelot."

"Homer wrote The Oddity in which Penelope was the first hardship Ulysses endured on his journey."

"Socrates died from an overdose of wedlock."

"King Alfred conquered the Dames."

"Indian squabs carried porpoises on their backs."

"Under the Constitution, the people enjoy the right to keep bare arms."

"In the Olympic Games, the Greeks ran, jumped, hurled the bisquits and threw the java."

"Lincoln was America's greatest Precedent."

Ms. Berman is not too ® about eliminating such errors from pupils' compositions and test papers. Her advice: enjoy!

Clues

CD 1st Day

@ 3rd Day

@ 1st Day

@ 2nd Day

® 1st Day



OFF BROADWAY When Monte Ziltch told his boss, Mr. Foy, that he was quitting as an accountant to become an actor, the man was convulsed with laughter. Mter Mr. Foy realized that Monte was obsessed* with the idea, he became quite serious, launching into a diatribe on the importance of responsibility in the younger generation. Monte confessed that he had been developing ulcers as an accountant, and when his psychiatrist suggested that the sickness was a result of inhibitions Monte agreed. Now a fortuitous opportunity to get

into show business required Monte to make an immediate decision. Mr. Foy stormed out of the office, muttering incoherently about hippies, beatniks, and others of that ilk


NEW WORDS

diatribe di' a trib

inhibition in' a bish' an or

in' hi bish' an

fortuitous fo tu' a bs

incoherent in' ko hir' ant

ilk ilk

1. When a large expenditure is imminent,* my father goes into a long _____ _ on the need for economy.

2. It is often fruitless* to argue with racists, bigots*, and others of that _____ _

3. Since the patient's speech was garbled* and , we could only conjecture* as to his message.

4. The meeting was a one, but the jealous husband construed* it as pre-arranged and clandestine.*

5. Mter two drinks the usually phlegmatic* dentist lost all his _____ _


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

diatribe a. kind, sort

inhibition b. disjointed

fortuitous c. accidental

incoherent d. bitter criticism

ilk e. restraint

TODAY'S IDIOM

to wear one's heart on one's sleeve-to make one's feelings evident

People who wear their hearts on their sleeves frequently suffer emotional upsets.


NEw WoRDS

prestigious pre suj· ~s

placard plak· ard

integral tn· t~ gr.,l

remuneration ri myii. n~ ra. sh~n nominal nom·~ n~l


AN All-ROUND MAN The need for a decision came about when Monte was invited to join a prestigious summer stock company, starting in mid-June. As a mature "apprentice," he would be required to take tickets, paint scenery, prepare placards, assist with lighting, costumes, and props, and carry an occasional spear in a walk -on role. Since the company would stage five major plays during the summer, as well as a half-dozen shows for children, there was a chance that Monte might actually get a part before too many weeks had elapsed.* In addition, he would be attending the drama classes that were an integral part of the summer theater. The remuneration would be nominal but at last Monte Ziltch would be fulfilling a life-long ambition.


1. The police posted a ______ ~sking all citizens to desist* from looting.

2. A salient* feature of the company's success was its fair treatment of employees.

3. Derek Jeter's ______ from the New York Yankees made him a millionaire many times over.

4. For allowing his ferocious mastiff* to appear on a commercial, the trainer was paid a ______ sum.

5. She seemed to be an unimportant member of the president's entourage* but actually she played an role in White House affairs.


6. prestigious a. essential

7. placard b. poster

8. integral c. slight

9. remuneration d. reward, pay

10. nominal e. illustrious

TODAY'S IDIOM

to wash dirty linen in public-to openly discuss private affairs

"Let's talk about it privately," his uncle said, "rather than wash our dirty linen in public."



FROM LEDGERS TO SCRIPTS During the first weeks of the summer, Monte Ziltch didn't even have time to consider whether he had made an egregious• mistake. He was too engrossed* with his work, performing a thousand and one odd jobs around the theater. First there was the opening production of A Chorus Line, then two weeks of The Fantasticks, followed by a poignant• Diary of Anne Frank, which did excellent business. All through those weeks, Monte painted, carried, nailed, collected, ran, studied, and perspired. He had expunged all traces of debits and credits from his mind, burying himself in the more flamboyant world of the theater. Accounting became anathema to him as the schism between his present utopia and his former drudgery* widened.


NEW WORDS

expunge ek spun.r

flamboyant Dam boi'ant

anathema a nath' a rna

schism siz' am

utopia yii to' pea

1. In Lost Horizon a character recoiled* at the idea of living in a _____ _

2. A pernicious• ______ developed between the two sisters.

3. The traitor's name was in his father's domicile.*

4. Our theatrical pages were inundated* with press releases from the _____ _ producer.

5. Mter having made the rash* statements, the senator wished that he could ______ them from the record.


6. expunge

7. flamboyant

8. anathema

9. schism

10. utopia

a. split

b. something greatly detested

c. place of perfection

d. erase

e. showy, colorful

TODAY'S IDIOM

to save face-to avoid disgrace

Instead of firing the corrupt executive, they allowed him to retire in order that he might save face.


NEW WORDS

timorous tim' ar as

truncated trung' ka tid

jaunty jon' te fractious frak' shas

ostentatious os · ten ta, shas


IRONY FOR MERRYWEATHER At last, Monte's chance to perform came. He had played the timorous Lion in a truncated version of "The Wizard of Oz," which the apprentices had staged. But now there was an open audition to cast the final show of the season. It was to be a jaunty original comedy, given a summer tryout prior to a Broadway opening. Monte, who by now had adopted the stage name of Monte Merryweather, read for the producers. hoping to get the part of the hero's fractious landlord. Unfortunately, the competition was too rough-but the director assigned Monte to a less ostentatious part. And so for the first two weeks in September the stage-struck accountant had a two-minute, two-line part. What was his role? The hero's accountant!


1. It is frustrating* to have one's lengthy remarks printed in form.

2. With his cap set at a angle, the amicable* sailor strutted down the street.

3. In an ______ display of histrionics* the star refused to perform.

4. Under duress* the normally ______ husband was coerced* into demanding a raise.

5. Roger's ______ behavior compounded* the bad relationship he had already had with his partner.


6. timorous

7. truncated

8. jaunty

9. fractious

10. ostentatious

74

a. fearful

b. cut short

c. sprightly, gay

d. showy

e. quarrelsome

TODAY'S IDIOM

Indian summer-warm autumn weather

Parts of the country were deep in snow, but the East was enjoying an Indian summer.


WEEK 12 •:• DAY 5 REVIEW

How many of the new words have now become a part of your "working vocabulary"? At first. their use may be conscious. even studied. However, the squeaks will soon disappear. Try a few this weekend. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space. (Note the resemblance between flamboyant and ostentatious).

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. anathema a. well-known 2. diatribe b. quarrelsome 3. expunge c. kind. sort 4. flamboyant d. poster 5. fortuitous e. disjointed 6. fractious f. sprightly 7. ilk g. accidental 8. incoherent h. in name only. slight 9. inhibition i. restraint

1 0. integral j. reward 11. jaunty k. a curse 12. nominal I. bitter criticism 13. ostentatious m. erase 14. placard n. colorful 15. prestigious o. cut short 16. remuneration p. essential 17. schism q. fearful 18. timorous r. showy 19. truncated s. split 20. utopia t. place of perfection

IDIOMS 21. wear one's h~art on one's sleeve u. make one's feelings evident 22. wash dirty linen in public v. warm autumn weather 23. save face 24. Indian summer

Now check your answers on page 299. Make a record of those words you missed.

w. to avoid disgrace x. openly discuss private affairs


1. -----------------

2.

3. -----------------

4.

5.

MEANINGS

75


76


1. The senator went into a lengthy (diatribe, remuneration) about government waste in the milltary budget.

2. Most reformers are seeking to create a (schism, utopia).

3. Lorraine was criticized sharply for the (ostentatious, nominal) way in which she furnished her apartment.

4. Anyone so (ilk, timorous) should not have been selected to guard the castle.

5. My brother was promoted to a (prestigious, flamboyant) job in his company.

6. Although his speech was (anathema, jaunty) we were able to sense its underlying seriousness.

7. The failing grade was (expunged, truncated) from her record when she submitted the excellent term paper.

8. I got my job as a result of a (fractious, fortuitous) meeting with the director of personnel.

9. The bookkeeper is such an (integral, incoherent) part of our organization that we pay her a very high salary.

1 0. We marched in front of the embassy with (placards, inhibitions) held high.

11. Don't (save face, wash your dirty linen in public) if you plan to run for office.


WORDSEARCH 12


Negi~ Oprah/ Ellen/ et a/.

The television talk shows of our era, featuring such <D public figures

as Regis Philbin, Oprah Winfrey, and Ellen De Generes, attract millions of

daytime viewers and constitute a powerful influence on the American scene.

When the media can hold the attention of so sizable a chunk of couch

potatoes, it pays to scrutinize it closely.

A student at Stanford University, doing her doctoral thesis o~ the unusual

popularity of the afternoon talk shows, noted the fierce competition among

those programs for guests who are off the beaten track. According to her:

"Almost every irregular,®.;:; ____ life-style you can think of has already

been featured on one of the shows and probably on all of them, when you add

Mantel Williams, Jerry Springer, and others of that ® who serve as

network hosts. They have shown teenagers who marry people in their sixties,

daughters and mothers who date the same man, men who have gone through

a marriage ceremony with other men, women with prominent tattoos, and

other people who are totally free of @..;;;;.4 ___ _

"® for our guests is so small," said a producer, "that these shows

are inexpensive to put on. And say what you want about good ·taste, millions

watch us every day, and as long as the ratings are that healthy, sponsors will

pay good money to be identified with us."

Clues

<D 2nd Day

® 3rd Day

® 1st Day

@ 1st Day

® 2nd Day


NEW WORDS

importune im' por tun'

incontrovertible in' kon t.rn ver' b hal

surreptitious s~r· ~p ttsh' ~s

haven ha.' v~n

subjugate sub' j~ gat


A VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT In the winter of 1941, Enrico Fermi and a number of other distinguished scientists importuned President Franklin Roosevelt for authorization to begin an all-out effort in atomic energy research. The scientists were alarmed by incontrovertible evidence of surreptitious German experiments, and they asked for speedy approval. Italianborn Enrico Fermi was the ideal man to lead the atomic research. Already in 1938 he had won the Nobel Prize for work with radioactive elements and neutron bombardment. Fermi had found a haven from the Fascists (his wife was Jewish) and he knew that if the Germans were the first to develop an atomic bomb it would mean that Hitler could subjugate the entire world. The international race for atomic supremacy was on.


1. Although Eddie was not sanguine* about his chances, he continued to ______ his boss for a winter vacation.

2. In inclement• weather our bam is a ______ for many animals.

3. The dictator used duplicity* in order to his rivals.

4. With a movement, the meticulous• bookkeeper emptied the ash tray.

5. The expert's testimony corroborated* the police report.


6. importune a. undeniable

7. incontrovertible b. ask urgently --8. surreptitious c. conquer

9. haven

10. subjugate

78

d. place of safety

e. stealthy, accomplished by secret

TODAY'S IDIOM

to take the bull by the horns-to face a problem directly Mter several days of delay, the minister decided to take the

bull by the horns, and so he sent for the vandals.



THE ULTIMATE WEAPON TAKES SHAPE Enrtco Fermi designed a device that could eventuate in a chain reaction. It consisted of layers of graphite, alternated with chunks of uranium. The uranium emitted neutrons, and the graphite slowed them down. Holes were left for long cadmium safety rods. By withdrawing those control rods Fermi could speed up the production of neutrons, thus increasing the number of uranium atoms that would be split (fission). When the rods were withdrawn to a critical point, then the neutrons would be produced so fast that the graphite and cadmium could not absorb them. In that manner a chain reaction would result. Slowly, Fermi's first atomic pile began to grow in a subterranean room at Columbia University. The big question remained-was it viable?


NEW WORDS

ultimate ul'.b mit

eventuate 1 ven' chil at

emit 1 mit'

subterranean sub' ta ni' ne an

viable vi' a 1»1

1. A thorough investigation ______ in a comprehensive• report.

2. After two years of confinement in a dungeon, the prisoner was thin and wan.•

3. The mayor issued a diatribe* against companies whose smokestacks _____ _ poisonous fumes.

4. Gaining better housing for all was the goal of the zealous• reformer.

5. When the schism• in the company was healed, a ______ arrangement was worked out.


6. ultimate

7. eventuate

8. emit

9. subterranean

10. viable

a. underground

b. final

c. practicable, workable

d. to give off

e. to result finally

TODAY'S IDIOM

the lion's share-the major portion

Because the salesman was essential to the business, he demanded the lion's share of the profits.


NEw WoRDS

premise prem' is

jeopardize jep' ~r diz

incredulous in krej' ~I~

permeate per' me at propitious p~ pish'


THE SQUASH COURT EXPERIMENT As the pile grew, so did the entire project. Fermi moved his materials to an abandoned squash court under a football stadium at the University of Chicago. His pace accelerated because they were proceeding on the premise that the Germans were close to atomic success. Six weeks after the pile had been started, its critical size was reached. Three brave young men jeopardized their lives by ascending• the pile, ready to cover it with liquid cadmium if anything went wrong. Almost fifty scientists and several incredulous obsetvers mounted a balcony to watch. One physicist remained on the floor; it was his job to extract the final cadmium control rod. Unbearable tension permeated the atmosphere. Fermi completed his calculations, waited for a propitious moment, and then gave the signal.


1. Acting on the ______ that there were no burglars around, the police became quite lax.•

2. After I had perused* the Yankee lineup, I was ______ about their chances of winning.

3. The trapeze artist was squeamish• about having to ______ his life.

4. A terrible odor that was impossible to expunge• the skunk handler's clothing.

5. At a ______ moment the flamboyant• movie star made her grand entrance.


6. premise a. favorable

7. jeopardize b. endanger

8. incredulous c. to spread through

9. permeate d. skeptical

10. propitious e. grounds for a conclusion

TODAY'S IDIOM

out of the frying pan into the fire-to go from a difficult situation to a worse one

I thought I had escaped, but actually I went out of the frying pan into the fire.



THE ITALIAN NAVIGATOR LANDS The chain reaction took place precisely as Enrico Fermi had surmised. Mter twenty-eight minutes he curtailed the experiment, giving the signal to replace the control rod. The normally reserved scientists, unable to repress their excitement, let out a tremendous cheer and gathered around Fermi to shake his hand. Although it was time to celebrate, some of the men remarked soberly that .. the world would never be the same again." On December 2, 1942, the news of Fermi's achievement was relayed in a cryptic telephone message:

'"The Italian Navigator has reached the New World." .. And how did he find the natives?" .. Very friendly." The Atomic Age was inchoate-but truly here!


NEW WORDS

surmise ~r miz'

curtail kertar repress

rl pres'

cryptic krlp'tlk

inchoate tn ko' it

1. Publication of the lurid* magazine was ______ by the district attorney.

2. Although his remarks appeared at first, we began to see how really pertinent* they were.

3. I had to ______ my desire to intelject* my criticism during the debate.

4. Edna had that she would be charged a nominal* sum and so she was outraged when she got the bill.

5. The young couple was disappointed to see the ______ state of their new house.


6. surmise

7. curtail

8. repress

9. cryptic

10. inchoate

a. puzzling

b. guess

c. to put down

d. to cut short

e. in an early stage

TODAY'S IDIOM

to keep the pot boiling-to see that interest doesn't die down

Dickens kept the pot boUing by ending each chapter on a note of uncertainty and suspense.



No matter what the theme, no matter what the source, we can expect that important concepts will require a mature vocabulary. This week's topic, scientific and biographical in nature, serves as a vehicle for teaching you twenty worthwhile words. You now have the chance to see whether you remember their definitions. Write the letter that stands for the defmition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. cryptic a. ask urgently 2. curtail b. undeniable 3. emit c. guess 4. eventuate d. accomplished by secret 5. haven e. to put down 6. importune f. favorable 7. inchoate g. cut short 8. incontrovertible h. workable 9. incredulous i. underground

1 0. jeopardize j. fmal 11. permeate k. to result finally 12. premise I. to spread through 13. propitious m. conquer 14. repress n. place of safety 15. subjugate o. endanger 16. subterranean p. a proposition for argument 17. surmise q. skeptical 18. surreptitious r. in an early stage 19. ultimate s. puzzling 20. viable t. to give off

IDIOMS 21. take the bull by the horns u. to maintain interest 22. the lion's share v. from bad to worse 23. out of the frying pan into the fire w. the major portion 24. keep the pot boiling x. to face a problem directly


Now check your answers on page 299. Make a record of 1. ---------those words you missed.

2. ---------

3. ---------

4. ---------

5. ---------

82

WORDSEARCH 13


Drug Smugglers Beware

The <D message came to Officer Matt Jagusak: "Drug search

tomorrow-bring pig."

Jagusak, with the Union County New Jersey Sheriffs Department Search

and Rescue Unit, had to <V his superiors to put Ferris E. Lucas, a

super sniffer, to work. Lucas is a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig with a fantastic

olfactory sense that is one million times greater than a human's and could be

our® weapon in breaking up the drug trade.

A canine trainer offered the pig to Union City, suggesting that its intelligence

and unique skill will make Lucas a @ fighter against illegal

narcotics. Jagusak has already taught his 55-pound porker-detective how to

find cocaine, hashish, and marijuana. While some law enforcement officials

were ® at first, they quickly became believers when they saw the

Sherlock Holmes of the sty locate underground drug scents that had eluded

trained dogs.

"I don't care if it's a dog, a pig, or an elephant," Jagusak's boss said. "If it

benefits the department and our community, we'll try it."

Clues

CD 4th Day

@ 1st Day

® 2nd Day

@ 2nd Day

® 3rd Day


NEW WORDS

aspire ;) spir'

inveigh in va'

nettle net' 1

overt o' vert

relegate rei' a gat


SUNDAY MORNING AT PEARL HARBOR At breakfast time on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Dorte Miller was serving coffee aboard the battleship West Virginia. Dorie was black, and the highest job to which he could then aspire in the U.S. Navy was that of messman. While Dorie was technically a member of a great fighting fleet, he was not expected to fight. Most Army and Navy officers inveighed against blacks as fighting men. Although blacks were nettled by such overt prejudice, Dorie Miller apparently accepted being relegated to the role of a messhall servant. Now, as he poured the coffee, Dorie was wondering why the airplanes above were making so much noise on a peaceful Sunday morning.


1. Although the comic's quips* seemed to be mild, they began to ______ the nightclub's owner.

2. I had a premonition* that Eli would ______ to the position of captain.

3. The pickets agreed to against the law that curtailed~ their freedom.

4. acts of violence by the prisoner jeopardized* his parole.

5. When they tried to the star to a minor role she was furious.


6. aspire a. irritate

7. inveigh b. open

8. nettle c. assign to an inferior position

9. overt d. to strive for

1 o. relegate e. attack verbally

TODAY'S IDIOM

to bury the hatchet-to make peace

After not speaking to each other for a year, they decided to bury the hatchet.



THE INFAMOUS* ATTACK The coffee cups suddenly went sptnntng as an explosion knocked Dorte Miller flat on his back. Jumping up from his supine position, the powerfully buUt messman from Waco, T~s. headed for the deck. Eve:rywhere that Dorte looked he saw smoke and mammoth warships lying on their sides. Overhead, dozens of Japanese dive bombers controlled the skies without a U.S. plane to repulse their attack. The havoc was enormous. Without hesitating, Dorte joined a team that was feeding ammunition to a machine gunner who was making an ineffectual* attempt to protect their battleship from being razed by the torpedo planes.


NEW WoRDS

supine su pin"

mammoth mam· :l)th

repulse rt puis·

havoc hav· :l)k

raze niz

1. From a ------ position, the hunter emitted* the animal's mating call.

2. Following the revolution, the people ______ the subterranean• dungeons of the dictator.

3. Management is sure to any request for increased remuneration. •

4. placards* announced the opening of the new movie.

5. The virulent• plague caused among the populace.

Definitions Match the new words with their meaning.

6. supine a. ruin

7. mammoth b. drtve back

8. repulse c. huge

9. havoc d. lying on the back

10. raze e. destroy

TODAY'S IDIOM

Philadelphia lawyer-a lawyer of outstanding ability

His case is so hopeless that it would take a Philadelphia lawyer to set him free.


NEw WoRDS

lethal Ie' th~I

scurry sker'e

incisive in si' siv

precipitate prt sip, ~ tat

stereotype ster' e ~ tip'


THE HEROISM OF DORIE MILLER Men all around Miller were succumbing* to the lethal spray of Japanese bullets. He dragged his captain to safety and turned back to see that the machine-gunner had been killed. Dorie took the big gun and trained it on the incoming bombers. Within the space of ten minutes he was credited with destroying four bombers while dodging the bullets of their fighter escorts. The enemy scunied away, having struck the incisive blow that precipitated U.S. entrance into World War II. Amidst the dead bodies and the ruined fleet were the heroes such as Dorie Miller. The Navy had told him that he did not have to fight buf he hadn't listened. The Navy had attempted to stereotype him, but Dorie changed all that.


1. Our editor castigated* the proposal with his commentary.

2. Poe's hero watched the rats across his inert* body.

3. The jockey received a ______ kick from the fractious* horse.

4. A quarrel was among the relatives after they heard the terms of the reprehensible* will.

5. The laconic* Clint Eastwood was a ______ of the strong, silent Western hero.


6. lethal

7. scurry

8. incisive

9. precipitate

10. stereotype

86

a. acute

b. run hastily

c. unvarying pattern

d. deadly

e. hasten

TODAY'S IDIOM

to gild the lily-to praise extravagantly

There was no need for the announcer to gild the lUy because we could see how beautiful the model was.



"FOR DISTINGUISHED DEVOTION TO DUTY" Some months later Dorte Miller was serving on an aircraft earner when Admiral Chester Nimitz, the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, came aboard to preside over a special awards ceremony. In stentorian tones the Admiral presented Miller with the prestigious• Navy Cross, commending him for a singular act of valor and "disregard for his own personal safety." Miller's heroism helped to shatter the bias against Mrtcan-Amertcans in the armed forces. Although he could have accepted a sinecure at a U.S. naval base, Dorte chose to remain in the combat zone where he was killed in action in December, 1943.


NEW WORDS

stentorian sten tor' e an

singular sing' gye lar

valor val·~r

bias bi' as

sinecure si' n~ kytir

1. The director was ousted* from his ______ when he angered the mayor.

2. In his customary tones, the sergeant reprimanded* those who thought the army was a haven• for incompetents.

3. The word "surrender" is anathema• to people of _____ _

4. A viable* peace was brought about as a result of the diplomat's _____ _ .contribution.

5. The bigot's* ______ precipitated* a fistfight.


6. stentorian

7. singular

8. valor

9. bias

10. sinecure


a. prejudice

b. soft job

c. courage

d. extraordinary

e. loud

TODAY'S IDIOM

to steal one's thunder-to weaken one's position by stating the argument before that person does

I had planned to be the first to resign from the club, but my cousin stole my thunder.

87

REVIEW WEEK 14 •:• DAY 5

Many people agree that a lawyer should be skillful with words. A Philadelphia lawyer, • it goes without saying, must have an extensive vocabulary in order to help him or her present a case. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. aspire a. 2. bias b. 3. havoc c. 4. incisive d. 5. inveigh e. 6. lethal f. 7. mammoth g. 8. nettle h. 9. overt i.

1 0. precipitate j. 11. raze k. 12. relegate I. 13. repulse m. 14. scurry n. 15. sinecure o. 16. singular p. 17. stentorian q. 18. stereotype r. 19. supine s. 20. valor t.

IDIOMS 21. bury the hatchet 22. Philadelphia lawyer 23. gild the lily 24. steal one's thunder


huge evident, open courage to strive for banish, assign to inferior position deadly soft job prejudice keen, acute run quickly hasten remarkable, uncommon attack verbally drive back lying on the back destroy conventional custom irritate ruin loud

u. to praise extravagantly v. outstandingly able w. to beat someone to the punch x. make peace


page 299. Make a record of 1. --------those words you missed.

2. --------

3. ---------

4. -----------

5. -----------

88

WORDSEARCH 14

•!• Using the clues listed below. fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Teen Talk Barbie. the best-selling $50 model. has gone a step too far in the

opinion of the American Association of University Women. Representatives of

that group were <D to hear that one of the four phrases that the doll

is programmed to utter is, "Math class is tough."

For years the university professors. as well as members of feminist

organizations. have ® against the ® that portrays girls as

weak math and science students. "Because that brainwashing message is

conveyed to girls at an early age. they come to accept what we consider to be

a blatant @ • " said Dr. Ellen Kaner, a Dallas chemist. "We are just

beginning to make progress in our campaign to recruit women for

challenging. well-paying careers in math and science," she added, "and were

shocked to learn that Barbie is spreading such harmful nonsense."

Executives of the company that manufactures Teen Talk Barbie had to

® to set matters right. They admitted that the phrase in question.

one of 270 selected by computer chips. was a mistake. In a press release.

their president said, "We didn't fully consider the potentially negative

implications of this phrase. Not only will we remove it immediately but will

swap with anyone who bought the offending doll."

We wonder how Ken feels about the matter.

Clues

<D 1st Day

® 1st Day

® 3rd Day

@ 4th Day

® 3rd Day


NEW WORDS

complicity k::lm plis · d te

liquidation lik · Wd da · shdn

accomplice ;, kom· plis

recant rt kant·

culpable kur pd ool


DANNY ESCOBEDO GOES TO JAIL In 1960, a young Chicagoan, Danny Escobedo, was given a 20-year jail sentence for first -degree murder. Danny had confessed to complicity in the killing of his brother-in -law after the police had refused to allow him to see his lawyer. Actually, Danny was tricked into blaming a friend for the liquidation of his sister's husband, thereby establishing himself as an accomplice. Despite the fact that Danny later recanted his confession, he was found culpable and jailed. Danny had been stereotyped* as a hoodlum and nobody raised an eyebrow over the hapless* felon's* troubles.


1. Proceeding on the premise* that the broker was guilty of in the swindle, the detective followed him surreptitiously.*

2. After the of the gang leader, a mammoth* conflict arose among his ambitious lieutenants who aspired* to be boss.

3. Once the incontrovertible* evidence was offered, the sezvant was held ______ in the theft of the jewels.

4. When the clergyman refused to , his superiors were so nettled* that they relegated* him to an isolated parish in Alaska.

5. Although he was judged as a minor ______ , the driver had actually played an integral* part in planning the crime.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings. Two of the words are very close in meaning.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

90

complicity a. deseiVing blame

liquidation b. partnership in wrongdoing

accomplice c. an associate-in crime

recant d. disposal of, killing

culpable e. withdraw previous statements

TODAY'S IDIOM

woolgathering-absentmindedness or daydreaming When the young genius should have been doing his homework,

he was frequently engaged in woolgathering.



ESCOBEDO'S LAWYER APPEALS Bany Kroll, a Chicago lawyer, took an interest in Danny Escobedo's case. Kroll felt that his cllent's rights under the Constitution had been abrogated . Since the alleged accomplice, • Escobedo, had been dented access to an attorney, Kroll asked the courts to invalidate the conviction. He proposed that lawyers be entitled to sit in when the police question a suspect but the 1111nois courts rejected that on the grounds that it would effectively preclude all questlonlng by legal authorities. If such a law were upheld, the police felt that 1t would play havoc• with all criminallnvestlgaUons.

Sample Sentences Use the new wordS in the following sentences.

NEW WORDS

abrogate ab'~git

alleged a lejd'

access ak' ees

invalidate in val' a dit

preclude prt ldQd'

1. The manager was distraught* when he realized that the sluggers sickness would _____ a World Series victory.

2. It is symptomatic* of some newspapers that an-----· criminal is regarded in print as guilty.

3. The wealthy uncle decided to _____ his inane4' nephew's sinecure. •

4. The general was sure to the court-martial's decision once he learned of the flagrant* bias* of the presiding officer.

5. Once the druggist had been duped* into opening the store, the addict gained _____ to the pep pills.


6. abrogate a. admittance

7. alleged b. reported, supposed

8. access c. to deprtve of legal force, to nullify

9. invalidate d. prevent

10. preclude e. abolish

to whitewash-to conceal defects, to give a falsely virtuous appearance to something

Although a committee was appointed to tnvesUga.te the corruption, many citizens felt that their report would be a whltewash of the culprtts. •


NEW WORDS

persevere per·~ vir·

landmark land· mark·

extrinsic ek strin · sik

declaim dt klam·

fetter fet· ~r


AN HISTORIC SUPREME COURT RULING Lawyer Kroll persevered in his defense of Danny Escobedo. The case was argued before the Supreme Court, and in 1964, in a landmark decision, the Court reversed Danny's conviction. Legal aid, said the judges, must be instantly available to a suspect. "'A system of law enforcement that comes to depend on the confession," one Justice declared, "'will, in the long run, be less reliable than a system that depends on extrinsic evidence independently secured through skillful investigation." A Justice who declaimed against the decision said, however, .. 1 think the rule is illconceived and that it seriously fetters perfectly legitimate methods of criminal enforcement."


1. Collectors avidly* sought the rare coin for its ______ value.

2. If we ______ , we can overcome many of our inhibitions. •

3. The Battle of Midway was a victory in the U.S. campaign for ultimate• victory over the Japanese in World War II.

4. I knew that my father would against Mother's choice of ostentatious• fabrics.

5. The senator inveighed* against the policy because he felt it would ______ our Air Force.


6. persevere a. to hamper

7. landmark (adj.} __ b. foreign, coming from outside

8. extrinsic c. speak loudly

9. declaim d. persist

10. fetter (v.) e. historic, turning point of a period

TODAY'S IDIOM

to break the ice-to make a start by overcoming initial difficulties The auto salesman had a poor week, but he finally

broke the ice by selling a fully equipped Cadillac.



THE EFFECTS OF THE ESCOBEDO DECISION After Danny Escobedo's release from prison, hundreds of inmates began suits for their freedom on the grounds that their rights had been violated, too. Each c1tse was heard on its merits, and in numerous instances people who had been convicted of serious offenses were freed because of the new standards established in the Escobedo case. After getting out, Danny was not a paragon of virtue, according to the police. He led a nomadic existence, drifting from job to job, and was arrested frequently. With asperity , and, a few choice epithets , Danny referred to police harassment. • Although the Escobedo case was acontroversial one, most agree that it inspired better police training, better law enforcement procedures, and improved scientific crime detection.


NEW WORDS

paragon par' a gon

nomadic no mad' ik

asp~rity_ a sper ate

epithet ep· a thet

controversial kon' tra ver·

1. In the desert, ______ tribes wander back and forth, enduring much privation.•

2. The town planners looked upon their utopia* as a ______ for other communities.

3. Some school principals attempt to repress• the publication of _____ _ editorials.

4. We were amazed at the display of ______ from our normally phlegmatic* neighbor.

5. A bitter quarrel was precipitated* when both politicians hurled vile _____ _ at each other.


6. paragon a. harsnness of temper

7. nomadic b. model of excellence

8. asperity c. wandering

9. epithet d. debatable

1 0. controversial e. descriptive name

TODAY'S IDIOM

the grapevine-a secret means of spreading information The grapevine has it that Ernie will be elected

president of the school's student council.



Police who have resorted to wire-tapping have been able to get evidence that was useful in gaining convictions. In a sense, everyone who listens to you is wire-tapping your conversation. Are the "detectives· impressed with the extent of your vocabulary? By the end of this week you will have gained a greater familiarity with 300 words and 60 idioms-enough to educate a conscientious wire-tapper. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space. (Numbers 1 and 13 are close in meaning.)

REVIEW WORDS 1. abrogate 2. access 3. accomplice 4. alleged 5. asperity 6. complicity 7. controversial 8. culpable 9. declaim

10. epithet 11. extrinsic 12. fetter (v.} 13. invalidate 14. landmark (adj.) 15. liquidation 16. nomadic 17. paragon 18. persevere 19. preclude 20. recant

IDIOMS 21. woolgathering 22. to whitewash 23. break the ice 24. the grapevine


DEFINITIONS a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

t. I. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t.

descriptive name coming from outside. foreign supposed. reported deserving blame destruction. disposal of an associate in crime model of excellence bitterness of temper persist repeal by law prevent speak loudly partnership in wrongdoing to deprive of legal force. cancel renounce previous statements to hamper, to chain admittance wandering historic debatable

u. a means of spreading information v. absentmindedness w. to conceal defects x. make a start


page 300. Make a record of 1. --------those words you missed.

2. ---------

3. --------

4. ---------

5. ---------

94

NEW WORDS

indigenous in dij' ;.1n ;.15

gregarious gr;.l ger' e es

habitat hab' ;.1 tat

cursory ker· s;.1r e interloper in' t;.1r lo' per


MEET THE BEES One of the most interesting inhabitants of our world is the bee, an insect that is indigenous to all parts of the globe except the polar regions. The honeybee is a gregarious insect whose habitat is a colony that he shares with as many as 80,000 bees. Although the individual bees live for only a few days, their colony can be operative for several years. A cursory study of the activities of these insects reveals an orderliness and a social structure that is truly amazing. For example, bees in a particular hive have a distinct odor; therefore, when an interloper seeks access* they can identify him quickly and repulse• his invasion.


1. Sherlock Holmes took a ______ glance at the cryptic* message and decoded it instantly.

2. The forest was replete• with the kind of wildlife that is ______ to Mrica.

3. Electric eyes, watchdogs, and other nuances• were there to keep out an ____ _

4. The alcoholic was found supine* in his favorite Ryan's Bar.

5. At the party, the hostess scurried* from group to group, making friends and influencing people.


6. indigenous a. hasty, not thorough

7. gregarious b. native

8. habitat c. natural environment

9. cursocy d. sociable

10. interloper e. an unauthorized person

TODAY'S IDIOM

in a bee line-taking the straightest, shortest route (that's the way a bee flies back to the hive after he has gathered food)

When the couple left, the babysitter made a bee line for the refrigerator.


WORDSEARCH 15


Questionable Advertisements

The Nostalgia Factory, a Boston art gallery, staged an exhibit of

advertisements that had outraged various segments of the community. For

example, one of the fast food chains ran a 1V commercial that showed

unattractive school cafeterta workers in hairnets, making that expertence less

tasty than a visit to Roy Rogers. Another ad that drew criticism from

psychiatrists and groups such as the Alliance for the Mentally Ill suggested to

readers that, if they had paid $100 for a dress shirt, they were fit candidates

for a straitjacket. Similar sensitivity had restricted ad writers from using terms

such as "nuts" or "crazy."

Why such protests and where do they come from? Who is asking companies

to CD contracts with those agencies that are ® in creating

racist types of commercial messages? Parents who took exception to the

Burger King spot that announced, "Sometimes You Gotta Break the Rules,"

said no to it because it gave the wrong message to their children. And when

a potato chip maker's ad featured a "bandito," angry Mexican-Americans

used some choice ® in denouncing such a stereotype.

The conclusion to be reached is that segments of the popula

tion have become increasingly vocal about "insensitive" ads, demanding that

corporations @ and never again commission advertisements that

are clearly ® , provocative, and harmful to good human relationships.

Clues

Q) 2nd Day

@ 1st Day

® 4th Day

@ 1st Day

® 4th Day


QUEENS, WORKERS, DRONES Each colony of honeybees consists of three classes: a) the queen who is a prolific layer of eggs; b) the worker who is the bulwark of the colony; and c) the sedentary drone whose only function is to mate with a young queen. The queen lays the eggs that hatch into thousands of female workers; some queens live as long as five years and lay up to one million eggs. The frugal worker builds and maintains the nest, collects and stores the honey, and is the antithesis of the lazy drone, or male honeybee, who does not work and has no sting. When the drone is no longer needed, the workers, in effect, liquidate• him by letting him staive to death. It'~ a cruel, cruel world!


NEw WoRDS

prolific pr~ Uf' lk

bulwark bul' wark

sedentary sed' n ter' e

frugal rru· g~I

antithesis an ttth' ~ sis

1. The usually ______ novelist was frustrated* by her failure to come up with a good plot.

2. Len, the gregarious• twin, was the ______ of Lon, the reticent one.

3. The typist shook off the fetters• of her life and joined a mountain climbing expedition.

4. shoppers occasionally badger• supermarket managers for bargains.

5. Some feel that the United States should be a to the inchoate• democracies around the world.


6. prolific a. producing abundantly

7. bulwark b. thrifty

8. sedentary c. protection

9. frugal d. exact opposite

1 0. antithesis e. largely inactive, accustomed to sitting

TODAY'S IDIOM

the world, the flesh, and the devil-temptations that cause man to sin

By entering the monastery he sought to avoid the world, the flesh. and the devil.


NEW WORDS

WEEK 16 •!• DAY J altruistic

al" trOIs· Uk

embellish ember ish

cache kash

coterie kO'tri

cupidity kyU pkr ~ te

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WORKER Let us examine the activities of the altruistic workers in greater detall. After the workers have constructed a hive of waterproof honeycomb (made from beeswax), the queen begins to lay eggs in the first cells. While some workers embellish the hive, others fly out in search of nectar and pollen. With their long tongues they gather nectar and use their hind legs to cany the pollen from the flowers. They fly directly back to the hive and then dance around the honeycomb, their movements indicating the direction of the flowers. Meanwhile, other workers have been cleaning cells, caring for the young, and guarding the precious cacheof nectar. Another special coterie is entrusted with heating or cooling the hive. Dedicated to the welfare of the queen and the entire insect community, all of these workers display a complete absence of cupidity

Sample Sentences Use the new words In the following sentences.

1. Through a fortuitous* remark, the ______ of the art thieves was discovered.

2. We warned him that his reprehensible* would eventuate* in a loss of all his friends.

3. The good-hearted doctor went Into the jungle purely for reasons.

4. A of bridge players made our clubroom their permanent habitat.*

5. Evecytime the irate* motorist told about the accident he had a tendency to ______ the story.


6. altruistic

7. embellish

8. cache

9. coterie

1 0. cupidity

98

a. secret hiding place

b. unselfish

c. small group having something in common

d. adorn, touch up

e. greed

TODAY'S IDIOM

to make bricks without straw-to attempt to do something without having the necessary materials (In the Bible we read

that the Egyptians commanded the Israelites to do so) My uncle's business schemes always fail because

he tries to make bricks without straw.



THE SAGA OF THE QUEEN BEE Although the virttwsity of the workers is remarkable, the queen bee is really the main story. Workers choose a few larvae to be queens, feeding them royal jelly, a substance rich in proteins and vitamins. While the queen is changing from a larva to a pupa, a team of workers builds a special cell for her. Soon the young queen hatches, eats the prepared honey, and grows strong. Mter she kills any rivals who have the temerity to challenge her, an amorous note is injected. She flies from the hive and mates with one or more drones on her first flight. Then the process of egg laying begins. When her progeny saturate the hive, scouts are dispatched to find a new location, and the bees swarm after their leader to begin the amazing cycle again.

NEW WORDS

. virtuosity ver· chi.i os· ;) te

temerity b mer·;) te

amorous am· ;)r ;)S

progeny proj·;) ne

saturate sach·;)

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences; remember, past tenses may be required.

1. A landmark* in the history of ______ drama is Romeo and Juliet.

2. The eminent* artist, famous for his , was admired by classicists and beatniks alike.

3. The Bantu chief and all his ______ were noted for their valor.*

4. For having the to declaim* against the majority leader, the freshman senator was given the worst committee assignments.

5. Television in the new century was with the rebirth of the old quiz shows.


6. virtuosity

7. temerity

8. amorous

9. progeny

1 0. saturate

a. descendants

b. full of love

c. soak, fill up completely

d. foolish boldness

e. great technical skill

TODAY'S IDIOM

to have the upper hand-to gain control I had him at my mercy, but now he has the upper hand



Even if you are as busy as the proverbial bee, you can always manage the flfteen to twenty minutes that are required for these daily vocabulary sessions. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the deflnition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. altruistic a. secret hiding place 2. amorous b. thrifty 3. antithesis c. enjoying the company of others 4. bulwark d. exact opposite 5. cache e. adorn 6. coterie f. unselflsh 7. cupidity g. small exclusive group 8. cursory h. greed 9. embellish i. not thorough, hasty

10. frugal j. descendants 11. gregarious k. an unauthorized person 12. habitat I. native 13. indigenous m. largely inactive 14. interloper n. natural environment 15. progeny o. foolish boldness 16. prolific P· fill up completely 17. saturate q. protection 18. sedentary r. full of love 19. temerity s. great technical skill 20. virtuosity t. fertile

IDIOMS 21. in a bee line u. directly 22. the world, the flesh, and the devil v. gain control 23. make bricks without straw w. attempt something without necessary

materials 24. have the upper hand


x. temptations


page 300. Make a record of 1. ---------those words you missed.

2. ---------

3. ---------

4. ---------

5. ---------

100

WORDSEARCH 16


Cheating a Cheater

"Our neighborhood was so tough," the comedian joked, "that two guys held up a bank and were mugged as they ran to their getaway car."

Later that evening, as Roy and Timmy were discussing the comic's routine, Roy was reminded of a true (he said) story that went like this:

Mr. D., the gang kingpin in our community, loved money. Like Silas Marner, the <D weaver of George Eliot's novel, he enjoyed counting his treasure each Friday night. Mr. D's ® was concealed in a wall safe behind a painting in his office. The $50 and $100 bills made his hands dirty as he counted them but Mr. D didn't mind. The filth of the lucre did not disturb him at all.

One Friday evening, Roy continued, a brash @ had the ..;;:.@ ___ _

to try to steal the ill-gotten gains. Having bought the combination from a relative who had installed Mr. D's safe, he stuffed his loot into a laundry bag and was halfway out the door when he spied a $10 bill on the floor. His ® made him go back for that small change, and in that moment, Mr. D. arrived on the scene.

The quick-thinking thief blurted out, "I'll have the shirts back on Friday." Hoisting the laundry bag over his shoulder, he was out the door before the confused mobster could figure out what had happened.

Timmy, who had listened patiently, said, "I don't believe a word of that story because it would take a guy with a great deal of starch to pull it offl"

Clues

<D 2nd Day

® 3rd Day

® 1st Day

@ 4th Day

® 3rd Day


NEw WoRDS

perpetrate per· IX> tnit

consummate kan sum· it

subterfuge sub· br fyilj

concoct kon kokt·

fallacious f;,) Ia· sh~s


A PLAN TO FOOL THE NAZIS One of the truly remarkable stories of World War II concerns a ruse• that was perpetrated with such conswnmate skill that it saved the lives of many Allied troops and helped to shorten the war. The simple, bold, and ingenious subterfuae which British officers concocted is the subject of Ewen- Montagu 's classic, The Man Who Never Was. In short, the idea was to plant fallacious documents concerning the Allied invasion of Europe upon a dead officer, have his body recovered by agents who would transmit the false information to Germany, and then obseiVe the effects of the plan.


1. Because the inspector had given only cursory• attention to the reports, I surmised* that his conclusion would be _____ _

2. Johnny Cochran, the famous and controversial* lawyer, gave _____ _ attention to the preparation of every case.

3. It was necessary for the interloper* to a convincing story in order to gain access* to the exhibit.

4. In order to the swindle, the jaunty* confidence man adopted an amorous• approach toward the wealthy widow.

5. The experienced teacher realized that Ricky's stomachache was merely a ______ to keep him from taking the French test.


6. perpetrate a. devise

7. consummate b. complete, of the highest degree

8. subterfuge c. commit

9.

10.

102

concoct d. ruse, • trlck

fallacious e. misleading

TODAY'S IDIOM

to draw in one's horns-to check one's anger, to restrain oneself The performer drew in his horns when he saw

that his critic was an eight-year-old boy.



"MAJOR MARTIN" GOES TO WAR After Commander Montagu and his colleagues had been given official approval for their dangerous escapade, they encountered manifold problems. First, they conducted an assiduous search for a body that looked as though it had recently been killed in an airplane disaster. Then, a detailed history of the man had to be invented that would be so impeccable that the enemy would accept its authenticity. This meant documents, love letters, personal effects, keys. photographs, etc. Each step was fraught with difficulty, but the schemers were unbeltevably resourceful. As a result, in the late spring of 1942, "Major Martin" was prepared to do his part for his country.


NEW WORDS

manifold man' a fold

assiduous a sif 0 as

impeccable im pek' a ~I

fraught frot

resourceful ri sOrs' fal

1. Burdened by her responsibilities, the young executive was precluded* from enjoying her new wealth.

2. Fear permeated• the crippled airplane as the passengers realized that their situation was with danger.

3. Although basically frugal, • his taste in clothing is _____ _

4. The store owner was ______ enough to run a sale the day after his building had been razed* by the flames.

5. Florence Nightingale was a paragon• of mercy in her ______ care for the wounded soldiers.


6. manifold

7. assiduous

8. impeccable

9. fraught

10. resourceful

ANSWERS ARf ON PACE 300

a. able to meet any situation

b. faultless

c. complex, many

d. devoted, attentive

e. filled

TODAY'S IDIOM

to put the cart before the horse--to reverse the proper order, do things backwards

My assistant was so eager to get the job done that he often put the cart before the horse.

103

NEw WoRDS

murky merke

component k~m po"lo mmt

hoax hoks

labyrinth lab'~ rtnth

evaluate 1 val' yii


THE PLOT THICKENS A subma.Iine took the body out to sea. Then, "Major Martin," the man who never was, was sUd into the murky Atlantic waters off the coast of Huelva, Spain. Attached to this courier's coat was a briefcase that contained the components of the hoax. Shortly thereafter, the Spanish Embassy notified the British that the body had been recovered. But Commander Montagu learned that the important documents had already been scrutinized* and later resealed so that the British would not be suspicious. The secret information was transmitted to the German High Command, through a labyrinth of underground networks, to be evaluated. Now the true test of the months of assiduous• planning would come-the question remained, would the Germans swallow the bait?


1. The practical joker had the temerity* to perpetrate• a ______ upon the Dean of Boys.

2. A good motion picture producer should be skilled in all the manifold* ______ of film-making.

3. After wandering through the , the young hero came face to face with the dragon who was indigenous• to the caves.

4. When I asked the English teacher to my plan for the term paper, her incisive• comments were very helpful.

5. The quality of the artist's latest painting is the antithesis* of her former style.


6. murky a. dark, obscure

7. component b. element

8. hoax

9. labyrinth

10. evaluate

104

c. deception

d. arrangement of winding passages

e. appraise, find the value of

TODAY'S IDIOM

to turn the tables-to turn a situation to one's own advantage The wrestler thought that he could pin me to the mat,

but I quickly turned the tables on him.



A PUZZLE FOR HIS MAJESTY The conspirators had reason to exult, for all evidence attested to the fact that the German High Command was gullible about "Major Martin." Their defense troops were moved away from the true invasion sites and deployed to areas that were inconsequential. Subsequently, when the actual attack took place, Allied casualties were minimized. Mter the war, Commander Montagu received a medal from the king of England. At the presentation ceremony, the king politely inquired where the young officer had earned his citation. "At the Admiralty," Montagu replied, presenting the king with a genuine enigma.


NEW WORDS

exult eg zult'

attest ~test·

gullible gul' ~hal

deploy di plot'

enigma i nig' m~

1. Explaining that the bookkeeper was merely a ______ dupe,* the judge freed him from complicity* in the crime.

2. As the audience watched the master ______ his chess pieces, they applauded his virtuosity.*

3. An expert was summoned to to the authenticity of the Rembrandts found in the Nazi cache* of stolen masterpieces.

4. When the College Board scores were promulgated,* my sister had good cause to

5. I could not solve the ______ of why an altruistic* person should exhibit such cupidity.*


6. exult

7. attest

8. gullible

9. deploy

10. enigma

a. to certify

b. easily cheated or fooled

c .. to position forces according to a plan

d. riddle

e. rejoice greatly

TODAY'S IDIOM

a chip off the old block-a son who is like his father (from the same block of wood)

When we saw the alcoholic's son enter the liquor store, we assumed that he was a chip off the old block.


REVIEW WEEK 1 7 •!• DAY 5

Major Martin, if he had lived, would have used the word "bonnet" to refer to the hood of his auto, and he might have referred to a truck as a "lony." As you can see, there are differences between American and British English. But Major Martin, undoubtedly, would have known all the words below-do you?

Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space. (Note the similarity between numbers 13 and 20.)

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. assiduous a. spread out in battle formation 2. attest b. a trick 3. component c. busy, attentive 4. concoct d. confirm as accurate, vouch for 5. consummate e. devise 6. deploy f. a riddle, puzzle 7. enigma g. element, part 8. evaluate h. able to meet any situation 9. exult i. perfect, complete

10. fallacious j. filled 11. fraught k. misleading, false 12. gullible I. rejoice greatly 13. hoax m. faultless 14. impeccable n. easily fooled 15. labyrinth o. winding passages 16. manifold p. find the value of, review 17. murky q. many 18. perpetrate r. deception 19. resourceful s. commit 20. subterfuge t. dark, obscure

IDIOMS 21. draw in one's horns u. restrain oneself 22. put the cart before the horse v. turn a situation to one's own advantage 23. turn the tables 24. chip off the old block


w. do things backwards x. son who is like his father



2. ---------

3. ---------

4. -----------

5. ----------

106

WORDSEARCH 17


Brothe~; Can You Spare a Dimel

The U.S. Department of Health and Human SeiVices, in a CD review of Social Security disability payments, focused on Jack Benson, a_® ___ _ Seattle panhandler. Mr. Benson had claimed that whatever money he collects on the street can be compared to the funds raised by legitimate charities, and, therefore, he is entitled to a federal deduction. Government officials regard his analogy as ® and disagree. It is their contention that, since Benson's income is unearned, it should be subtracted from his disability payments.

Mr. Benson may not be highly regarded as a street beggar but that didn't stop him from going into the Federal District Court in Oregon to plead that his appeals for cash are an art form, thereby making him eligible for most of the $4 72 a month that he had been receiving. Not so, declared the government, quoting from a 1990 ruling that found that "money received through begging is better classified as 'gifts' rather than as 'wages' or 'net earnings from selfemployment.'"

Mr. Benson's lawyer, plunging into the legal 0....:..4 ____ , has not given up.

She countered that, if Jack merely sat on a street corner with his hand out, the government had a good case. However, in her words, "Jack Benson is a ® professional who has elevated begging to a respectable level because of his skill in actively seeking contributions."

It may take all of Benson's talent as a salesman to get the government to put some money in his collection basket.

Clues

CD 2nd Day

@ 2nd Day

@ 1st Day

@ 3rd Day

® 1st Day


NEw WoRDS

abortive ~bar· tiv

modify mod'~ fi

accommodate ~ kom' ~ dat

spontaneous span ta' ne ~s

innate i nat' or in' at


TEACHING CHIMPANZEES TO TALK Two resourceful* psychologists at the University of Nevada have made splendid progress in vocabulary development in chimpanzees. Following a number of abortive attempts to teach French, German, or English to chimps, the researchers persevered* until they hit upon the American Sign Language system that is often used by deaf persons. They have had to modify the language somewhat in order to accommodate the animals' spontaneous gestures. With a mixture of innate movements and learned ones, some laboratory chimps now have an extensive vocabulary.


1. His cunning allowed him to see through the spy's subterfuge. •

2. The divers made an attempt to rescue the dog from the murky* waters.

3. Because Phil refused to ______ his philosophy, the directors were forced to invalidate* his appointment.

4. My English teacher admonished* me: "I realize that the speech was to be ______ , but it was not supposed to be incoherent• or fraught* with fallacious• statements."

5. A quarrel was precipitated* when the dietician refused to ______ the patient's special needs.

Definitions If vocabulary is getting to be your stock in trade,* you should have no trouble in matching the new words with their meanings.

6. abortive

7. modify

8. accommodate

9. spontaneous

10. innate

108

a. fruitless,• useless, failing

b. to make fit, adjust to

c. natural

d. without preparation, unrehearsed

e. to change

TooAv's IDIOM

under the wire--just in time

Hank hesitated about his term paper for two months and finally submitted it just under the wire.



CHIMPANZEES ARE SURPRISINGLY SMART Washoe, the chimpanzee, has more than a veneer of intelligence; she can signal her desire to eat, go in or out, be covered, or brush her teeth. In addition, she can make signs for ''I'm sony," "I hurt," "Huny," "Give me," and a myriad of other terms that are familiar to young children. This urbane animal can indicate that she craves more dessert by putting her fingers together ("more") and then placing her index and second fingers on top of her tongue ("sweet"). It is irrelevant that Washoe cannot actually talk. What is important, however, is the consummate* ease with which she has mastered her daily assignments.


1. Why did Silas Marner ______ wealth and practice cupidity*?

NEW WORDS

veneer \'C) ntr'

myriad mtr' e ~

urbane er ban'

crave kriv

irrelevant i rei'~ wnt

2. Once the hoax had been concocted*, a of problems arose.

3. The defendant was alleged* to have been an army deserter, but the judge said that was to the case.

4. By embellishing* her work with ______ humor, the sophisticated playwright succeeded on Broadway.

5. The lieutenant confessed to a ______ of ignorance in order to properly evaluate* his corporal's resourcefuh1ess. *

Definitions Take the bull by the horns* and match the new words with their meanings.

6. veneer

7. myriad

8. urbane

9. crave

10. irrelevant

a. to desire

b. countless number

c. polished, witty

d. thin covering

e. not related to the subject

ToDAY's IDIOM

to be at large-not confined or in jail

Since the dangerous criminal was at large, all the townspeople began to buy dogs for protection.


NEW WORDS

deem dem

inherent in hir' ant

buff buf

romp romp

latent lat' nt


EASY TO TRAIN The chimpanzees are deemed by scientists to be the closest to man of all the living apes: consequently, they are fairly easy to train. Several years ago, two married researchers embarked on an interesting project: they reared and trained a chimp in almost the same manner as they would have raised a child. The animal did beautifully, convincing the couple of the inherent ability of the chimpanzee. Cinema buffs who have seen Tarzan's clever monkey romp through the jungle also recognize the latent intelligence of those animals.


1. Whom do you to be the bulwark* of the Republican party?

2. The fir~men did not have to cajole* the enthusiastic into helping them extinguish the bla?.e.

3. When the intercity competition began, our team was supposed to _____ _ over our hapless• rivals.

4. At the age of 42, the artist first became cognizant* of his ______ genius.

5. Certain mice have an ______ alertness that enables them to conquer the researchers' labyrinths.•


6. deem

7. inherent

8. buff (n.)

9. romp

10. latent

110

a. lying hidden

b. to move in a lively manner

c. inborn

d. a fan, follower

e. believe, to judge

TODAY'S IDIOM

to go against the grain-to irritate

My uncle is in favor of some protests, but certain demonstrations go against the grain.



MORE FACTS ABOUT CHIMPS Chiplps In the laboratory have demonstrated their ability to find their way out of the most tortuous maze. They can press buttons, manipulate levers, avoid shocks, etc. When food is placed out of reach, the animals can prepare a ladder of boxes to reach it. In his natural habitat• the chimpanzee is something of an itinerant. He goes his nomadic* way through the jungle, living on fruit, insects, and vegetables. With the aid of his long, powerful hands he can swing rapidly from tree to tree and cover considerable ground In his peregrinations. Chimps are loyal in their conjugal relationships, taking only one mate at a time. That may be another barometer of these animals' superior intelligence.

Sample Sentences Use the new words In the following sentences.

NEW WORDS

tortuous tor~ chu ~s

itinerant i tin~ ~rant

peregrination per ~ gt"Cl wi~ s~n

conjugal kon· ja gal

barometer ~rom'~ t.,r

1. The other drivers were nettled* about the ease with which our car ascended* the ______ road.

2. Arguments over money have often led to ______ havoc. •

3. The sedentary* twin was content to follow his brother's ______ on a map.

4. Signs were posted in the lobby to prevent beggars and others of that ilk* from entering.

5. The warmth of Mr. Smythe's greeting each morning may be construed* as an excellent of his health.


6. tortuous a. wandering

7. itinerant b. winding

8. peregrination c. travel

9. conjugal d. relating to marriage

1 0. barometer e. Instrument for measuring change

TooAv's IDIOM

to wink at-to pretend not to see There was a plethora• of evidence to show that the border guards

would wink at illegal shipments if they were paid in advance.



While it is true that scientists have had remarkable success in teaching chimpanzees to communicate, we can be certain that even super-monkeys would have difficulty with any of the words below. However, higher animals who apply themselves can master all of them. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space. (Note the similarity between numbers 8 and 9.)

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. abortive a. 2. accommodate b. 3. barometer c. 4. buff (n.) d. 5. conjugal e. 6. crave f. 7. deem g. 8. inherent h. 9. innate i.

1 0. irrelevant j. 11. itinerant k. 12. latent I. 13. modify m. 14. myriad n. 15. peregrination o. 16. romp p. 17. spontaneous q. 18. tortuous r. 19. urbane s. 20. veneer t.

IDIOMS 21. under the wire 22. to be at large 23. go against the grain 24. wink at

not related to the subject thin covering fruitless, failing natural polished, civilized to make fit, adjust to on the spur of the moment move in a lively manner to desire instrument for measuring change winding inborn believe, to judge going from place to place a fan, follower, enthusiast travel (n.) relating to marriage, connubial* countless number to change lying hidden

u. pretend not to see v. just in time w. to irritate x. not confined or in jail


Now check your answers on 1. --------page 301. Make a record of

those words you missed. 2. --------

3. --------

4. --------

5. ---------

112

WORDSEARCH 18


A Shameful Situation

The plight of the migrant farm worker continues to frustrate the U.S. Labor Department. court officials, legislators. religious groups. and community agencies. Men, women, and chiJdren toil six and seven days a week to earn as little as $10 to $20 a week after being overcharged for their food, medicine, and basic living needs. They are housed in ramshackle dormitories. often with non-functioning toilets-a <D of their employers' contempt for them; they lack hot water and showers, and are given food that is barely fit for human consumption.

Unscrupulous contractors scour the countryside in search of homeless, ® • and unemployed men and women, offering to put them to work at good jobs picking fruits and vegetables. The U.S. Labor Department investigates the ® of complaints of abused workers, issues fmes, and revokes the licenses of contractors. But many such shady employers pay the fines (which they ® to be operating expenses) and continue to run company stores that cheat the workers, subjugate them with drugs and alcohol, ® them with advances on their paltry wages at high interest. and use violence against those whom they regard as troublemakers.

Fred Jones. a typical migratory worker from South Carolina, claims to have worked for $6 cash out of his $158 check. His story is repeated by hundreds of others who have been treated shabbily by corrupt contractors. Until sufficient funds are allocated by state and federal agencies, and until there is the proper public response, these abuses will continue.

Clues

CD 4th Day

@ 4th Day

® 2nd Day

@ 3rd Day

® 1st Day


NEW WORDS

megalomania meg· ~ lo rna· n~ profligate prof 1~ git

strife strif

legion Ie· j~n

coup kii


TROUBLE IN RURITANIA King Andre of Ruritania was affltcted* with megalomania, and the people of his country suffered, as a result. After ten years of his profligate rule, the treaswy was bankrupt, unemployment was rampant*, domestic strife was mounting, and the number of the king's opponents who were incarcerated* were legiDTl Following a bloodless coup, his nephew, Prince Schubert, took command of the poor nation.

Sample Sentences Based upon your understanding of the new words, as discovered from the context, place them in the spaced provided.

1. With a singular* disregard for his family, the ______ husband spent his salary on alcohol.

2. Each spouse said that the other was culpable* for their conjugal* _____ _

3. "The number of my followers is , " said the flamboyant* politician.

4. The necessity for executing the leaders of the abortive* ______ was obviated* when they committed suicide.

5. Hitler's ______ was a veneer* for-his insecurity and feelings of inferiority.


6. megalomania

7. profligate

8. strife

9. legion

10. coup

114

a. discord, disagreement

b. revolution

c. wasteful

d. a large number

e. abnormal desire for wealth and power

TooAY's IDIOM

to play possum-to try to fool someone; to make believe one is asleep or dead

Sensing that his life was in jeopardy*, the hunter played posswn until the voracious* lion disappeared.



PRINCE SCHUBERT IN ACTION Prince Schubert's first move was to declare an wnnesty for political prisoners and to invite home all Ruritanian expatriates. Those who had been jailed on false charges were exonerated by special tribunals. The young leader announced that he would abrogate• all of the oppressive fiats that his predecessor had promulgated. • Things began to look up temporarily for the citizens who perceived in Prince Schubert the sincerity, idealism, and honesty that had been lacking in the mendacious King Andre.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the folloWing sentences.

1. The publisher's claims led to a myriad* of law suits.

NEW WORDS

amnesty . am~~ ste

expatriate ek spa-treat

exonerate eg zon · ~ rat-

fiat tr ~t

mendacious men da· sh~s

2. When the jwy began to deliberate, they were prepared to the culprit.*

3. The itinerant* poet, living abroad for twenty years, was a voluntary _____ _

4. One cannot govern by , the sedentary* mayor quickly learned: it is necessary to get out and meet the citizens if you want their cooperation.

5. We recognized the dictator's ______ as an obvious feint* that would be withdrawn after Christmas.

Definitions It w1ll be a red letter day* for you if you can match the new words with their meanings.

6. amnesty

7. expatriate

8. exonerate

9. flat

10. mendacious

a. an exile

b. lying, untrue

c. a general pardon

d. to free from guilt

e. an official order, a decree

TODAY'S IDIOM

it's an ill wind that blows nobody goodsomeone usually benefits from another person's misfortune

When the star quarterback broke his leg, the coach gave the rookie his big chance and the youngster made good: the coach mumbled, "It's an ill wind."


NEw WoRDS

parsimonious pAr' ~ mo ne C)$

pecuniary pi kyO.' ne er' e dismantle dis man' tl

sumptuous sump· chii C)S

underwrite un' dC)r rit'


REFORM MOVEMENT In order to improve Ruritania's financial position, an astute• but parsimonious treasurer was installed and given wide pecuniary powers. He tried to get the little country back on its feet by slashing all waste from its budget, dismantling King Andre's sumptuous palaces, and firing all incompetents. In addition, Prince Schubert was able to get the United States to underwrite a substantial loan that would enable him to start a program of public works. Even so, Ruritania was still in desperate trouble.

Sample Sentences Prove that you are not a flash in the pan* by using the new words correctly in the following sentences.

1. I plan to ______ the stereo set and clean all the components. •

2. The feast was prepared with impeccable* care.

3. Unless my boss modifies• his ______ attitude, a fractious• picket line is going to be erected.

4. Clarence Day deemed* that ______ matters are best handled by men.

5. When our rivals agreed to the cost of our trip, a myriad* of suspicions began to form in my mind.

Definitions If you made mistakes above, you can now save face• by matching the new words correctly with their meanings.

6. parsimonious a. agree to finance

7. pecuniary b. financial

8. dismantle c. to strip of covering, take apart

9. sumptuous d. miserly

10. underwrite e. lavish

TODAY'S IDIOM

to know the ropes-to be fully acquainted with the procedures

The president of the senior class knew the ropes and quickly taught me my duties.



DISAPPOINTMENT AND DEDICATION When Prince Schubert asked for additional restrictive measures, the people began to balk. Speaking on radio, the young reformer explained the reasons for higher taxes and food rationing; he was blunt when he stated the need for personal sacrifices. Nevertheless, the resistance to reform was great, and nostalgia for the "good old days" of King Andre began to grow. The people admitted that graft and corruption had been rife under Andre, but at least "everybody got his slice of the pie." Although Prince Schubert was tempted to quit, he determined that he would help the people in spite of themselves.

NEW WORDS

restrictive ri strik' tiv

balk bok

blunt blunt

nostalgia no stal' j~

rife rif

Sample Sentences Don't pass the buck*! Use the new words in the following sentences yourself.

1. The rebel's innate* hatred of ______ decrees led him to crave* freedom all the more.

2. A string of caustic* epithets* was directed at the recruit by his _____ _ sergeant.

3. Although the former farm girl pretended to be urbane*, a feeling of _____ _ always came over her when she heard country music.

4. Criticism of the author was among the coterie* of intellectuals who used to praise him.

5. Jimmy was a lawbreaker, but he would ______ at the idea of carrying a lethal* weapon.


6. restrictive

7. balk (v.)

8. blunt

9. nostalgia

10. rife


a. widespread

b. plain spoken

c. to refuse to move

d. yearning for the past

e. harsh, confining

TODAY'S IDIOM

behind the eight ball-in trouble

Susan found herself behind the eight ball in chemistry when she failed to do the term project.

117


Rurttania is a mythical kingdom, impossible to find on a map and difficult to find in a dictionary. The words that you are about to review, however, are all legitimate, acceptable dictionary words. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. amnesty a. revolution, overthrow 2. balk b. unrest, discord 3. blunt c. take apart, disassemble 4. coup d. lavish 5. dismantle e. to free from guilt 6. exonerate f. agree to finance 7. expatriate g. false, lying 8. fiat h. an exile 9. legion i. abnormal desire for power

1 0. mendacious j. plain spoken 11. megalomania k. harsh, confining 12. nostalgia I. to refuse to move 13. parsimonious m. wasteful 14. pecuniary n. an official order, a decree 15. profligate o. widespread 16. restrictive p. large number 17. rife q. financial 18. strife r. a general pardon 19. sumptuous s. miserly 20. underwrite t. yearning for the past

IDIOMS 21. to play possum u. someone profits from another's misfortune 22. an ill wind v. be fully acquainted with procedures 23. know the ropes w. in trouble 24. behind the eight ball x. try to fool someone



page 301. Make a record of 1. _______ _ those words you missed.

2. --------

3. --------

4. --------

5. --------

118

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 19


Ogopogo

Accounts of supersized creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster and the

Abominable Snowman are <D • Despite the lack of hard evidence,

some people continue to believe that the depths of our lakes and isolated

mountain caves remain the dwelling places of fantasy figures.

Now, a new star for the credulous has surfaced. Japanese television was

asked to® a search for Ogopogo, a long-necked reptilian creature

said to inhabit Lake Okanagan in the mountains of south-central British

Columbia. Ogopogo stories are ® in that area as people produce

photos of rippling water and shadows resembling an enormous serpent with

flippers, gliding slowly in large circles.

Those who @ at what they regard as nonsense and pagan

superstition are quite ® in belittling Ogopogo fans. Nevertheless,

the legends, which have a life of their own, happily, have brought thousands

of tourists and business to the Okanagan Valley.

Recognition of the creature now exists in British Columbia's environmental

law which provides protection for Ogopogo. The official description reads, "An

animal in Okanagan Lake, other than a sturgeon, that is more than three meters in length, and the mates or offspring of that animaL"

Been wondering about the creature's name? Ogopogo comes from an English

music hall song: "His mother was an earwig; his father was a whale; a little

bit of head and hardly any tail-and Ogopogo was his name."

Clues

CD lst Day

® 3rd Day

® 4th Day

@ 4th Day

® 4th Day


NEW WORDS

reviled ri vild'

derogatory di rog' ~ tor e indict in dit'

nebulous neb' y~ l~s

pesky pes'ke


LA CUCARACHA-THE COCKROACH The poor cockroach has been called the "most reviled creature on the face of the earth." Nobody loves him~xcept, perhaps, another cockroach. Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are replete* with derogatory references to these ubiquitous* bugs. Public health officials are quick to indict the insects as carriers of viruses that cause yellow fever and polio. Although past evidence has been somewhat nebulous, recent studies also show that an allergy to roaches may contribute significantly to asthma. Little wonder, therefore, that the pesky cockroach is under attack.


1. Because the contract offer was a ______ one, the union leaders balked* at it.

2. Ezra Pound, the expatriate* poet, was ______ for his pro-Fascist remarks.

3. When the grand jmy refused to him, the mobster was exonerated.*

4. Evecy time his accountant called with pecuniary* problems, Ben was vecy blunt* with him.

5. The columnist was ordered to recant* her ______ statements.


6. reviled a. annoying

7. derogatocy b. belittling*, disparaging*

8. indict c. unclear, vague

9. nebulous d. scolded

10. pesky e. accuse

TODAY'S IDIOM

left holding the bag-to be left to suffer the blame

The profligate* businessman left his distraught* partner holding the bag.



WAITER, PLEASE TAKE THIS BOWL OF SOUP BACK TO THE KITCHEN In addition to menacing our health, cockroaches are smelly, filthy, and ugly. Upon entering a cellar that ts redolent with their aroma, you are not likely to forget the odor. And when you spy the foul culprits• creating havoc• in your sugar bowl or in repose atop your chocolate cake, your disposition may be exacerbated. • Roaches are omnivorous and will feast upon such disparate items as wallpaper, upholstery, nylon stockings, and beer. No one can accuse the hungry and thirsty bugs of being abstemious.

Sample Sentences The words above fit into the blanks below.

NEW WORDS

redolent red'l~nt

repose ri paz'

omnivorous om ntv' ~r ~s

disparate dis' ~r it

abstemious ab ste' me ~s

1. While the palace guards were in , the rebels' coup• began in earnest.

2. Coach Fischer issued a fiat• that required that his players be _____ _

3. The scent that came from the bakery created in Eloise a sense of nostalgia* for her grandmother's bread.

4. eaters find the dietary laws in some hotels to be too restrictive.•

5. Regardless of how their crimes were, all the prisoners were freed by the general amnesty. •


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

redolent a. different

repose (n.) b. fragrant

omnivorous c. moderate in eating or drinking

disparate d. eating any kind of food

abstemious e. state of rest

TODAY'S IDIOM

a lick and a promise-to do something in a hasty and superficial manner The meticulous• housewife was in so much of a hurry that

she could only give the apartment a lick and a promise.


NEW WORDS

extant ek' stmt or ek stant'

vicissitudes · v~ sis· ~ tlldz

edifice ed' a fis

sultry sui' tre

trenchant tren' ch~nt


THE ROACH LIVES ON Cockroaches are the oldest extant winged insects, having been traced back over 350 million years. They have endured the vicissitudes of weather, natural disasters, war, and planned liquidation.* They reside comfortably in caves in South America, in transcontinental airplanes, on mountain tops, in Park Avenue edifices. and in television sets. The climate may be sultry or frigid but roaches persevere. • In the words of one writer, 'The miraculous survival of the roach is explained by its inherent• adaptability." In fact, a trenchant analysis made the point that any forthcoming nuclear war will be won by roaches, not Russians, Chinese, or Americans.


1. Hundreds of copies of Shakespeare's signature came from the same prolific• forger.

2. The of life in the Medical Corps are not for the squeamish. •

3. We originally planned on a skyscraper but had to settle for a truncated*

4. When he learned that the movie was to be replete* with ______ scenes, the cautious banker refused to underwrite• its cost.

5. General Fox submitted a ______ report on the enemy's latent* strength.


6. extant

7. vicissitudes

8. edifice

9. sultry

1 0. trenchant

122

a. keen, incisive•

b. difficulties

c. extremely hot and moist, torrid

d. still existing

e. a building

TODAY'S IDIOM

tongue in cheek-insincerely Speaking with his tongue in his cheek, the parsimonious*

employer promised to double everyone's wages.



TONGUE IN CHEEK*? The U.S. Public Health Service admits to frustration* in its attempts to destroy the cockroach. As soon as the scientists devise a puissant chemical, some bugs succumb.* But the hardy ones suiVive and breed a resistant strain. Since the average female produces close to three hundred descendants, little hope is held out for a final solution to the roach problem. Nevertheless, extermination campaigns continue unabated. Surprisingly, some sentimental souls become maudlin as they consider the persecution of the insects. A wriier noted for his levity made a lugubrious plea for a crash program of aid for the cockroach, calling him "a victim of his slum environment."


NEW WORDS

puissant pyii · ~ sent or

pyii is' nt

unabated un· ~ bat· id

maudlin mod'l<)n

levity lev·~ te

lugubrious h1 go' bre ~s

1. She advocated* ______ music as appropriate background for the funeral scene.

2. Although the debater's rebuttal was , it was totally irrelevant.*

3. The plague continued , and the hapless* Friar John was unable to deliver the note to Romeo.

4. A good barometer* of the reunion's success was the number of ______ songs that the alumni sang.

5. Dean Flanigan admonished* us for our ______ at the graduation exercises.


6. puissant a. sentimental

7. unabated b. very sad

8. maudlin c. lightness of disposition

9. levity d. without subsiding

1 0. lugubrious e. powerful

TODAY'S IDIOM

to take the wind out of one's sails-to remove someone's advantage Although Edna was bristling* with anger when she stormed in, I took the wind out of her sails by voicing my own displeasure at the way she had been treated.



There are many choice epithets* for cockroaches, and over the centuries man has been most resourceful* in concocting* adjectives to descrtbe the insects. Whether you are going to get excited over a roach, write a poem, take a College Board examination, or compose a letter to a loved one, it helps to have a rich vocabulary. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Wrtte the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. abstemious a. different 2. derogatory b. sentimental 3. disparate c. building 4. edifice d. very sad 5. extant e. humor, lightness of disposition 6. indict f. vague, not clear 7. levity g. expressing a low opinion 8. lugubrious h. eating any kind of food 9. maudlin i. accuse

1 0. nebulous j. state of rest 11. omnivorous k. still existing 12. pesky I. powerful 13. puissant m. annoying 14. redolent n. fragrant 15. repose o. moderate in eating or drtnking 16. reviled p. keen, sharp, biting 17. sultry q. torrid 18. trenchant r. difficulties 19. unabated s. without subsiding 20. vicissitudes t. scolded

IDIOMS 21. left holding the bag u. insincerely 22. a lick and a promise v. left to suffer the blame 23. tongue in cheek w. do something in a cursory* manner 24. take the wind out of one's sails x. remove someone's advantage




2. ---------

3. -------------

4. -----------------

5. ------------------

124

MEANINGS

HAPLESS HEADLINES (From Week 20)

•!• Restore meaning to the headlines below by inserting the word that the careless typesetter omitted.

a. Pesky b. Maudlin c. Repose d. Abstemious e. Sultry f. Vicissitudes g. Redolent h. Levity i. Derogatory j. Unabated k. Reviled I. Puissant m. Nebulous n. Trenchant o. Lugubrious p. Disparate q. Indict r. Extant s. Omnivorous t. Edifice

1. Rioting Continues ______ in Men's Correctional Facility

2. Torch Singer's Songs Raise Temperature in Night Club

3. Life-Style Results in Huge Weight Loss for Actor

4. Architect Celebrated for New All-Glass _____ _

5. Serious Judge Will Tolerate No ______ in His Courtroom

6. Grand Jury Set to Bookkeeper in Million Dollar Fraud

7. Baseball Manager to Apologize for Remarks about Umpire

8. Only Three Copies of Shakespeare's Handwriting _____ _ Says Elizabethan Scholar

9. Handicapped Climbers Overcome Many to Scale Mt. Everest

10. Dictator ______ by South American Patriots


WORDSEARCH 20

126


Chlorine Compounds on Trial

The chances are that the water supply where you live is disinfected by

chlorine, one of the elements on the periodic table. Yet, -=CD~---

complaints about chlorine continue ®-=.2 ____ , identifying it as a health

and environmental risk.

Greenpeace, the environmental activist group, stands ready to-=®=----

chlorinated organic elements, alleging that they are toxic. The Federal

Environmental Protection Agency is reexamining the health hazards that are

prevalent when materials containing chlorine are processed at high

temperatures. And, worldwide, nations are banning chlorine compounds that

destroy the earth's protective ozone layer. Harsh treatment, it would seem, for

one of nature's basic elements, a component of the table salt we use.

When we enter a pool that is @ with the aroma of chlorine, we don't

associate it with the ® element now being blamed for tumors,

reproductive problems, arrested development, destruction of wildlife, and

sundry other ills that plague our planet.

A scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund thinks that chlorinated

chemicals should be phased out. "We know they will be persistent if they get

into the environment," she said. 'They are soluble, so they will build up in the

fat of fish, birds, and people."

Clues

CD 1st Day

@ 4th Day

® 1st Day

@ 2nd Day

® 1st Day



LOCKED IN AN IVORY EDIFICE* Prince Siddhartha Gautama was the scion of a family of warrior-kings in northern India. He was being indoctrinated for the time when he would assume his father's throne. Growing up in an atmosphere of opulence, the young prince was constantly shielded from the cruel realities of the world. An army of obsequious seiVants and tutors catered to his every desire, providing Siddhartha with instruction in riding, fencing, dancing, and painting-while lavishing fulsome praise upon him. It wasn't until the prince was thirty that he took the first step that led to his becoming the Buddha, one of the world's greatest spiritual leaders.

NEW WORDS

scion si'~n

indoctrinate in dok' ~nat

opulence op' ~ l~ns

obsequious ~b se' kwe ~s

fulsome rur &lm

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences. (Which two words are almost synonymous?)

1. It was not until the wreckers began to dismantle* the old edifice• that they discovered its real _____ _

2. As the of a family of wealthy bankers, Rothschild never had to face the vicissitudes• of life.

3. Uriah Heep's ______ manner nettled* all but the most gullible.•

4. In order to the captive, his jailers repeatedly reviled* capitalism while praising communism.

5. The actress received ______ compliments from her friends but trenchant• criticism from the reviewers.


6. scion

7. indoctrinate

8. opulence

9. obsequious

10. fulsome

a. seeking favor, fawning

b. child, descendant

c. wealth, riches

d. excessive, insincere

e. to teach certain principles

TODAY'S IDIOM

two strings to one's bow-two means of achieving one's aim The salesman had two strings to his bow-if a phone call

didn't get results, he would appear in person.


NEW WORDS

lush lush

destitution des' b bi' shcln

ponder pon' d~r

supplication sup' 1~ ki' sh~n

decadence dek' ~ d~ns


SIDDHARTHA'S EYES ARE OPENED One day, Prince Siddhartha expressed the desire to leave his lush surroundings and ride out among his people. He was profoundly shaken by the misery, destitution. disease, and excruciating* pain with which his people were constantly afflicted. • Retiring to his room to ponder over what he had seen, he remained there for several days, deaf to the supplication of those who pleaded with him to come forth. It seemed to Siddhartha that his life had been redolent• with decadence, and he was determined to make amends.

Sample Sentences ·Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The stage setting drew applause from the theater buffs. •

2. In the hospital, the alcoholic had time to over the need to be abstemious. •

3. As the traveler followed the tortuous• path up the Kentucky mountain, he was sickened by the which he saw.

4. Through , the fraternity head hoped to end the strife* among the members.

5. Rumors of Rome's ______ were rife* among the barbarian tribes.


6. lush a. decay

7. destitution b. extreme poverty

8. ponder c. to consider carefully

9. supplication d. earnest prayer

10. decadence e. luxurious, elaborate

TODAY'S IDIOM

on tenter hooks-in a state of anxiety (cloth used to be stretched or "tentered" on hooks)

The indicted* clerk was kept on tenter hooks by the district attorney.



THE ENLIGHTENED ONE Siddhartha exchanged his sumptuous• garments for a monk's yellow robe and went out into the world to do penance for what he considered to be his previous life of sin. First he would cleanse himself by becoming an ascetic; then he would study Hindu wisdom in order to be prepared to help his suffering people. After six years of desultory wandering and attracting only a handful of disciples, Siddhartha came to a huge tree near the Indian city of Gaya. For seven weeks he sat beneath its branches, seeking an answer for his personal torment. Finally, it is said, he underwent a metamorphosis, becoming the Enlightened One-the Buddha.


NEW WORDS

penance pen·~ns

ascetic ~set' tk

desultory des'~l tor'e

disciple da si' pal

metamorphosis met· a mar· fa sis

1. Billy the Vampire is the only extant• ______ of Count Dracula.

2. In a remarkable , her lugubrious* mood changed to one of levity.•

3. Following a lengthy diatribe* against mendacity*, the priest imposed _____ _ upon the sinner.

4. The cave of the lacked the opulence• and lush* decoration of his former mansion.

5. Larry's compositions proceed in a ______ manner despite the supplication• of his English teacher.


6. penance a. change

7. ascetic (n.) b. atonement for sin

8. desultory c. occurring by chance, disconnected

9. disciple d. one who practices self-denial and devotion

10. metamorphosis e. follower

TODAY'S IDIOM

the fat is in the fire-the mischief is done We implored* him to desist* but he said that the fat was already in the ft.re.


NEw WoRDS

bona fide bo' n~ fid'

salvation sal va' sh~n

materialism m~ tir' e ~ liz~ am

nurture ner' ch~r nirvana nir va.' na


LOVE OVER HATRED GOODNESS OVER EVIL Buddha outlined the three paths that men might travel: worldly pleasure, self-torment, and the middle path. Only through the middle path could man achieve bona fide peace and salvation. One had to repudiate* materialism. keep his self-control, restrict speech, be open-minded, never lie or steal, reject selfish drives, nurture goodness, etc. Buddha continued to preach until the age of eighty. spreading the philosophy that man has the power to shape his own destiny. 1brough good deeds and pure thoughts man may reach nirvana Interestingly enough, the man who objected to traditional religious worship was to become idolized by millions throughout the world.


1. In order to good will, the management will do anything to accommodate* its guests' special needs.

2. When we saw the hundreds of petitions, we realized that the number of people who supported the candidate was legion.*

3. The megalomaniac* believed that he alone had the answer to mankind's

4. Rosalie found solace* in the conviction that one day mankind would reach Shangrt-la, Utopia,* _____ _

5. Disciples* of ______ may know the price of evecything but the value of nothing.


6. bona fide a. to nourish, support

7. salvation b. attention to worldly things and neglect of spiritual needs

8. materialism c. freedom from care and pain, Buddhist heaven

9. nurture d. genuine

10. nirvana e. deliverance from ruin

TODAY'S IDIOM

like Caesar~ wife--above suspicion Mrs. Drake would have to be like Caesar's wife so that no tinge•

of scandal would embarrass her husband, our new mayor.



For the past twenty weeks, each of these review exercises has contained a bit of propaganda to point up the need for you to expand your vocabulary. This week is no exception. Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. ascetic a. one who practices self~denial 2. bona fide b. wealth 3. decadence c. concern with possessions 4. destitution d. luxurious 5. desultory e. decay 6. disciple f. disconnected, random 7. fulsome g. deliverance from ruin 8. indoctrinate h. extreme poverty 9. lush i. to teach certain principles

1 0. materialism j. excessive 11. metamorphosis k. nourish 12. niivana I. heavenly place 13. nurture m. descendant 14. obsequious n. earnest prayer 15. opulence o. consider carefully 16. penance p. follower 17. ponder q. atonement for sin 18. salvation r. seeking favor 19. scion s. change 20. supplication t. genuine

IDIOMS 21. two strings to one's bow u. in a state of anxiety 22. on tenter hooks 23. fat is in the fire 24. like Caesar's wife

v. two means to achieve one's aim w. above suspicion x. the mischief is done


Now check your answers on 1. ---------page 302. Make a record of those words you missed. 2. ---------

3. ---------

4. ---------

5. -------------

131

WORDSEARCH 21

132

• •.• Using the clues listed below. fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week,

History'S Most Extraordinary Personl

In a celebrated essay about Joan of Arc. Mark 1\vain wrote movingly of her

brief moment in the spotlight-two short years in which she made an

indelible mark on world history. At age 16 she was illiterate, had never

strayed from her sleepy little village, knew nothing of military combat. or

courts of law. But at age 17. in a complete CD she was named

Commander-~n-Chief of the French army, vowing to restore her king to his

throne. Joan attracted many fervent followers. and a@ called her "France's ...;;;@ ___ _

After much gallantry in battle. this @....;;;.4 ____ heroine was brought low by

treachery at the French court and captured by the enemy. Joan defended

herself brilliantly at a court trial. although she could neither read nor write.

She was able to forecast future events with remarkable accuracy. correctly

predicting her own martyrdom.

Mark 1\vain understood how geniuses such as Napoleon, Edison, and Wagner

could develop but one could® the facts for a lifetime without being

able to explain how this humble peasant girl could display the qualities of a

mature statesman, a learned jurist, and a military wizard. He concluded:

"Taking into account her origin, youth, sex. illiteracy, early environment. and

the obstructing conditions under which she exploited her high gifts and made

her conquests in the field and before the courts that tried her for her life

she is easily and by far the most extraordinary person the human race has

ever produced."

Clues

<D 3rd Day

® 3rd Day

® 4th Day

@) 4th Day

® 2nd Day



FEMALE ALCOHOLICS

NEW WORDS

juxtapose juk sta poz'

plight plit

covert ko'v~rt

cope kop

When we juxtapose the words "woman" and "alcoholic" many readers are surprised. However, the plight of America's several million female alcoholics is rapidly increasing in intensity. But the statistics are inexact because it is estimated that there are nine covert alcoholics for every one under treatment. Women drink to help themselves to cope with life's vicissitudes.• They drink because of financial pressures, incompatibility, frustration, • and related reasons.

incompatibility 1n ~tam pat'~ bll' ~ te


1. If we were to ______ our philosophies, your materialism• would conflict with my idealism.

2. Judge Felder commented with aspertty• upon the wife's charge of _____ _

3. Just how our club's president is able to with so many disparate* personalities is something I'll never understand.

4. The of the refugees who wandered about in a desultory* fashion moved us to tears.

5. Woodrow Wilson stated that he found ------ agreements to be reprehensible.*


6. juxtapose a. quality of being mismated, lack of harmony

7. plight b. to place side by side

8. covert c. predicament, dangerous situation

9. cope d. secret, hidden

1 0. incompatibility e. to be a match for, to be able to handle

TODAY'S IDIOM

plea bargain-to agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge so as to avoid trial for a more serious offense.

The defendant finally took his lawyer's advice and agreed to a plea bargain of third-degree assault


NEW WORDS

incapacitated in' k~ pas' ~ bit id

fabricate fab' r.> kat

connubial ~nO' be ~I demur di mer'

appellation ap'~la'sh~n


A PROFILE OF THE WOMAN WHO DRINKS TO EXCESS The typical alcoholic woman is above average in intelligence, in her forties. married, with two children. She started drinking socially in high school or college. Although frequently incapacitated. she can fabricate a story skillfully and thus conceal her true physical condition. She often attributes her alcoholism to connubial stress, boredom, or depression. A large percentage of the women give family histories of alcoholism. Most female drinkers would demur at the appellation of "alcoholic"-and that makes their treatment all the more difficult.

IMPORTANT NOTE: How good a detective are you? Did you spot one of the new words that had been introduced earlier? (fabricate) It should be part of your vocabulary now. From time to time in the lessons that follow, your alertness will be tested as a previously learned word is reintroduced.


1. Dave's metamorphosis* from an honest person to one who could _____ _ an alibi so adroitly* was amazing.

2. The widow grew maudlin* as she reminisced about her former bliss.

3. I will have to even if I receive a bona fide* invitation to run for the G.O. council.

4. Because he was the scion* of the richest family on our block, Lenny was given the ______ of "Rockefeller."

5. He was ashamed to admit that a pesky* skin rash ______ him for weeks at a time.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

134

incapacitated a. to object

fabricate b. a name

connubial c. to lie, concoct*

demur d. related to marriage

appellation e. disabled, made unfit

TODAY'S IDIOM

in apple pie or~er-in neat order, good condition

The house was in dreadful condition when Mrs. Maslow arrived. but when she left it was in apple pie order.



NEFARIOUS* EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL Aside from the reasons offered earlier, doctors have other interesting reasons for the escalation in female drinking. They also indict* social acceptance and indifference to alcohol's potential danger as contributmy factors. If women realized the harmful extent of the cumulative effect of alcohol, they might taper off in their public and recondite drinking. Forty-three percent of the female alcoholics in a survey showed evidence of liver damage, and a quarter of the whole group had a high white-blood-cell count. Almost five percent of the patients died shortly after their release from the hospital.

NEW WORDS

escalation es'k~li'sh~n

indifference in dtf' ~r ~ns

potential I» ten' sh~l

cumulative kyii · m~ 1~ tlv

recondite rek' ~n dit

Sample Sentences If you can still see clearly after all the references to liquor, use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Many derogatory* statements were heard from those who were opposed to further ______ of the conflict.

2. With complete toward his personal safety, Lt. Regan openly challenged the puissant• forces of the enemy.

3. When destitution* grips an area, there is excellent ______ for trouble.

4. The ______ effect of the summer's sultry* weather was to shorten everyone's temper.

5. The poet's ______ language precluded* any understanding of her theme.


6. escalation a. possible

7. indifference b. accumulated

8. potential (adj.) __ c. secret, hidden, obscure

9. cumulative d. an increase, intensification

10. recondite e. lack of concern

TODAY'S IDIOM

apple polishing-trying to gain favor by gifts or flattery If the way to advancement in this company is through apple polishing, I quit!


NEw WoRDS

palliate pare at delude dtlod·

prelude prer yud

chimerical ka mer· a kal

acknowledge ak nor lj


DANGER SIGNALS A potential* female alcoholic should be cognizant* of certain danger signals:

a. Using alcohol in an attempt to palliate her problems. b. Deluding herself about the extent of her drinking habits. c. Drinking at regular time periods, both day and night. d. Reliance upon alcohol as a prelude to a major social

obligation. e. Making unrealistic promises about terminating* her

drinking. f. Using alcohol as a medication for real or chimerical

illnesses.

If in evaluating* her drinking, a woman acknowledged that several of the danger signals applied to her, she should see a physician.


1. Monte refused to the extrinsic* pressures that were causing him to do poorly in his sophomore year.

2. We must not allow fulsome* praise to ______ us about our actual abilities.

3. The drugs could only ______ the symptoms, not provide the cure.

4. As a to his performance, the bullfighter vowed to do penance* for his sins.

5. The scheme sounded ______ , but we were indoctrinated* to believe that it could work.


6. palliate a. visionary, imaginary, fantastic

7.

8.

9.

10.

136

delude b. alleviate, relieve without curing

prelude c. introduction

chimerical d. to fool

acknowledge e. admit

TODAY'S IDIOM

the Draconian Code--a very severe set of rules (Draco, an Athenian lawmaker of the 7th century B.C., prescribed the death penalty for almost every violation.)

The head counselor ran our camp according to his own Draconian Code.



If you're drtving, don't drtnkl Alcohol does not mix with gasoline! We have seen those slogans on many billboards. Here's a new one: "If you use words, use good ones!" Match the twenty words with their meanings. Wrtte the letter that stands for the definition in the approprtate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. acknowledge a. accumulated 2. appellation b. admit 3. chimertcal c. relieve without curtng 4. connubial d. to lie 5. cope e. to fool 6. covert f. a name 7. cumulative g. predicament 8. delude h. secret 9. demur i. intensification

1 0. escalation j. to be a match for 11. fabrtcate k. obscure, hidden 12. incapacitated I. imaginary, fantastic 13. incompatibility m. related to marrtage 14. indifference n. possible 15. juxtapose o. to place side by side 16. palliate P· to object 17. plight q. introduction 18. potential (adj.) r. lack of concern 19. prelude s. lack of harmony 20. recondite t. disabled

IDIOMS 21. plea bargain u. trying to gain favor 22. in apple pie order v. severe set of rules 23. apple polishing w. admit guilt on a lesser charge 24. Draconian Code x. in good condition


Now check your answers on 1. ---------page 302. Make a record of

those words you missed. 2. ---------

3. ---------

4. ----------

5. ---------

MEANINGS

137

WORDSEARCH 22

138

•!• Using the clues listed below. fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Hair TodaJ; ...

The fact that a hair salon might charge $40 for a woman's shampoo and

haircut but only $20 for the same services for a man is a matter of

<D to most citizens. Not so to New York City's Commission on

Human Rights. which claimed that such a disparity is discriminatory.

Commissioner Dennis De Leon has targeted "gender-based" pricing as a

violation of city law.

Consider the ....;..@ ____ of the salon owners. They @-=3 ____ the price

difference. explaining that it takes much longer to cut a woman's hair and

requires the use of additional products. But a spokesperson for the

Department of Consumer Mfairs said that beauty parlors will have to

® with the situation honestly. just as dry cleaners and used-car

dealers did when they were apprised of the law.

"I know that women are fighting for equality," said the owner of a chain of

unisex hair salons, "but this is ridiculous. We cut a man's hair in no time but

we have to get more money from our female customers because their styling

and cutting takes so much longer."

The argument might be the _® ____ to an important court case. A city-

proposed settlement. however. is to have those salons that are cited for

violations of the law offer free haircuts to women for a period of three months

before having to pay a stiff fine for repeated offenses.

"It's easier to comply." shrugged one owner (bald. himself).

Clues

<D 3rd Day

® 1st Day

@ 4th Day

@ 1st Day

® 4th Day



FROM ATO Z Ellis Sloane, a teacher of science at a large metropolitan high school, first paid little attention to the fact that his two biology classes were so disparate* in their performance. In most schools the classes are alphabetically heterogeneous, with youngsters' names running the gamut from Adams to Zilch. But Biology 121 had only A's and B's, whereas Biology 128 had Ts, Vs, Ws, Y's, and Z's. Mr. Sloane, a perspicacious teacher, began to perceive* differences between the two groups: while their reading scores and I.Q.'s were roughly analogous. it was apparent that Biology 128 was replete* with maladjusted students, while Biology 121 had the normal ones.


NEW WoRDS

heterogeneous het• ~r ~ je' ne ~s

gamut gam· ~t

perspicacious per· s~ ka· sh~s

analogous ~ nar~ g~

maladjusted mat· ~ jus' tid

1. The Bureau of Child Guidance has been the salvation* for some _____ _ children.

2. Our algebra class is a ______ one in which bright students are juxtaposed* with slower ones.

3. Senator Thorpe was enough to realize that the scurrilous* charge would have little effect upon the voters.

4. Although the lawyer acknowledged* that the two cases were hardly _____ _ he still felt that he had a good precedent on his side.

5. The actress ran the ______ of emotions in a poignant* performance that thrilled the audience.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

heterogeneous __ a. range

gamut b. acutely perceptive, shrewd

perspicacious c. poorly adjusted, disturbed

analogous d. comparable, similar

maladjusted e. dissimilar

TODAY'S IDIOM

the distaff side-women (distaff was a staff used in spinning)

The men had brandy on the porch, while the distaff side gathered to gossip in the kitchen.


NEW WORDS

phenomenon r~ nom'~ non

mortality

mar tal'~ te

decade dek'ad

susceptible ~ sep' b b~l

neurotic nti rot' ik


WHAT'S IN A NAME? As Mr. Sloane pursued his investigation of the phenomenon, he discovered that a Dr. Trevor Weston of the British Medical Association had corroborated* his findings. Dr. Weston had studied British mortality rates over a decade, fmding that people whose names began with letters ranging from "S" to "Z" had a life expectancy that averaged twelve years fewer than the rest of the population. Furthermore, those at the bottom of the alphabet tended to contract more ulcers, were more susceptible to heart attacks, and were more likely to be neurotic than those at the top of the alphabet.


1. Irritability is one of the salient* features of a ______ personality.

2. After a ______ of connubial* acrimony,* the couple decided to consult with a marriage counselor.

3. If a miner were to ponder* over the high rate in his occupation, he might want to quit.

4. Ethan Frome soon learned that his querulous* wife was to a variety of ailments.

5. There was no paucity* of witnesses to describe the of the flying saucer.


6. phenomenon a. death

7. mortality b. suffering from a nervous disorder

8. decade c. ten years

9. susceptible d. unusual occurrence

10. neurotic e. easily affected, unusually liable

TODAY'S IDIOM

on the qui vive-on the alert

My mother is always on the qui vive for bargains.



THE PERILS OF THE ALPHABET Dr. Weston is convinced that the pedagogue is the culprit. • Since teachers seat their pupils in alphabetical order, the "S" to "Z" child is usually the last to receive his test marks, the last to eat lunch, the last to be dismissed, and so on. As they are the last to recite, these youngsters feel frustrated* because what they had to say had usually been enunciated earlier. The . irwrdinate amount of waiting that this group has to do causes them to become irascible and jittery. "S" to "Z" people also become quite introspective, convinced that they are inferior to those at the top of the alphabet.


NEW WORDS

pedagogue ped'agog

enunciate j nun· seat

inordinate in Ord' nit

irascible i ras' ~ hll

introspective tn' tra spek' Uv

1. Reporters were expecting the candidate to ______ his policy on the escalation• of the war.

2. His profligate• son made the parsimonious• old crank even more _____ _

3. Since Alice is so gregarious• it surprised me to learn that she is also an _____ girl.

4. Mr. Ford is proud to be called a teacher, but he demurs• at the title of

5. In an attempt to show how assiduous• he was, the executive spent an ______ amount of time on his report.


6. pedagogue

7. enunciate

8. inordinate

9. irascible

1 0. introspective

a. irritable

b. excessive

c. to utter, proclaim

d. looking into one's own feelings

e. teacher

TODAY'S IDIOM

to get one's back up-to become angry Every time his mother mentioned getting a haircut,

the young guitarist got his back up.


NEW WORDS

, perpetuate ~r pech. ii at

mandate man· dat

compensatory


IN THE NATURE OF EDUCATIONAL REFORM

kam pen· SQ to• re Mr. Sloane did not want to perpetuate the disorders that stemmed from the alphabetical arrangement. Not only did he reverse the seating in his other classes, but he began to badger* the school's administration for a mandate to bring about such changes throughout the building. He called it a compensatory factor to neutralize the catastrophic effects of the traditional policy. Soon, Mr. Sloane earned the appellation• of "Mr. Backwards."

neutralize mr trn liz

catastrophic kat· a stror· ik


1. Don Ricardo hoped that his son would the family business, but Manuel was too involved with chimerical* schemes to want to run a restaurant.

2. If the draconian* regulations are to continue unabated, • they will have ______ results.

3. Dr. Meyers prescribed medication to the acid condition that had incapacitated* my uncle.

4. As a prelude* to his victory speech, the mayor announced that he considered the large vote to be a from the people.

5. education may help minority groups to cope* with their plight.*


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

142

perpetuate a. serving to pay back

mandate b. an authoritative order or command

compensatory __ c. to counteract

neutralize

catastrophic

d. to cause to continue

e. disastrous

TODAY'S IDIOM

to bring home the bacon-to earn a living, to succeed The man's inability to bring home the bacon was the

actual reason for the couple's incompatibility.•



You may not know the alphabet from aardvark to zymurgy, but you can certainly cope* with analogous to susceptible.

Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. analogous a. disastrous 2. catastrophic b. irritable 3. compensatory c. teacher 4. decade d. disturbed 5. enunciate e. to cause to continue 6. gamut f. comparable, similar 7. heterogeneous g. shrewd 8. inordinate h. authoritative command 9. introspective i. dissimilar

1 0. irascible j. range 11. maladjusted k. counteract 12. mandate I. having a nervous disorder 13. mortality m. excessive 14. neurotic n. looking into one's own feelings 15. neutralize o. unusual occurrence 16. pedagogue p. death 17. perpetuate q. easily affected 18. perspicacious r. serving to pay back 19. phenomenon s. ten years 20. susceptible t. to utter, proclaim

IDIOMS 21. the distaff side u. women 22. on the qui vive v. on the alert 23. to get one's back up w. become angry 24. bring home the bacon x. earn a living


Now check your answers on 1. ________ _ page 302. Make a record of those words you missed. 2. ________ _

3. ---------

4. ----------

5. ----------

MEANINGS

YOU ARE NOW AT THE MID-POINT OF THE BOOK, AND YOU SHOULD PLAN TO DEVOTE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO A REVIEW OF THOSE WORDS THAT YOU MISSED DURING THE PAST TWENTY-THREE WEEKS.

143

WORDSEARCH 23

144


Microsociety-An Antidote for School Boredom

Money, taxes, employment. legislation-these are topics that we associate with the adult world. George Richmond, a Yale graduate who became a <D in the New York City school system, felt that elementary school youngsters could also be interested, even excited, about such issues. He experimented in his own classes with the Microsociety in which basic instruction takes place and is reinforced as pupils operate their own businesses, pass laws, live within the parameters of a constitution that they drafted, seek redress within their own judicial system, buy and sell real estate, and so on.

Richmond's book on the Microsociety came to the attention of the school board in Lowell, Massachusetts, and their members decided to give it a try in 1981. In much less than a ® the results were quite remarkable: students exceeded the norm in reading and math; 8th graders passed college level exams: school attendance went up to 96%; and the dropout rate took a nosedive in Lowell.

In Microsociety's @ classes, mornings are given over to the traditional curriculum. In the afternoon, the students apply what they learned in activities that run the @ from keeping double entry books, doing fmancial audits, running a bank, and conducting court sessions to engaging in light manufacture that leads to retail and wholesale commerce.

Other ® school systems have since adopted George Richmond's. innovative ideas. "Microsociety," said a Yonkers, New York principal, "gets kids to role-play life!"

A Time Magazine reporter was much impressed with Microsociety's results: "Such an approach would go a long way toward making U.S. public schools a cradle of national renewal."

Clues

G) 3rd Day

@ 2nd Day

® 1st Day

@ 1st Day

® 1st Day



PRIMITIVE MAGIC In the course of their studies of other cultures, anthropologists have reported numerous customs and practices that seem bizarre to the average American. Many primitive people believe that certain inanimate objects have a will of their own and possess some magical powers. These fetishes may be simple things like a particular feather of a bird or a unique pebble. The fetish might have derived its power, according to members of some tribes, from a god who lives within the object and has changed it into a thing of magic. Fetishes need not only be natural objects, however. An artifact such as a sculpture or carving is also believed to possess supernatural powers.

Sample Sentences Now use your new words in the following sentences.

1. Stones are objects that have no life of their own.

NEW WORDS

anthropologist an' thrn pol' a jist

bizarre ba zar'

inanimate in an'~ mit

fetish fet' ish

artifact ar' b fakt

2. It has been suggested that the man who builds a better mousetrap will find the world beating a path to his door to possess this _____ _

3. The explorers saw the golden statue and thought of how much money it would bring them. But their lives would be in danger if they moved it because it was a powerful ______ to the natives.

4. Margaret Mead, the famous , fascinated thousands of readers with her studies of South Seas islanders.

S. It would be rather for a young man to come to school wearing a dress.

Definitions If you have studied the reading selection and the sample sentences, now try your hand at matching your new words with their definitions.

6. anthropologist __ a. an object made by hand, rather than a thing as it occurs in nature

7. artifact

8. bizarre

9. fetish

1 0. inanimate

b. lifeless

c. an object that is thought to have magic powers

d. an expert in the study of the races, beliefs. customs, etc. of mankind

e. odd, peculiar, strange, weird

TODAY'S IDIOM

to get down off a high horse-to act like an ordinary person When Susan discovered that the young man who was trying to make conversation with

her was the son of a milltonaire, she immediately got down off her high horse.


NEW WORDS

taboo t~ bu·

imprudent im prod· nt

prohibition pro·~ bish· ~n

imperative im per·~ tiv

taint tint


FORBIDDEN An outgrowth of the idea of a fetish* is the closely related practice of taboo. Whereas the gods or supernatural powers merely inhabit an object that is a fetish and lend it magic, they will punish the imprudent native who violates their prohibition of an act or use of an object or word that has become taboo. If a taboo has been broken, it becomes imperative for the offender to be punished. In many cases, however, the taint on the community may be removed after the priests have performed a special ceremony. Often, the violator of the taboo will be punished or die merely through his own fears of the terrible thing he has done.

Sample Sentences Has the context in which your new words appear given you clues to their meaning? Try now to use them in these sample sentences.

1. Unsanitary conditions in the bottling factory caused hundreds of cases of soda to be ______ by dirt and foreign objects. The health department refused to allow the soda to be sold.

2. Although a New Jersey high school principal placed a on boys wearing their hair long, one student fought in the courts and won his case.

3. It is considered ______ to give your computer code word to anyone not fully known to you.

4. It is ______ for certain South Seas islanders to eat some foods before they many.

5. In the nuclear age it has become ______ for the nations of the world to learn to live in peace.

Definitions Now is your chance to test your knowledge of your new words by matching them with their definitions.

6. imperative

7. imprudent

8. prohibition

9. taboo

10. taint (n.)

146

a. contamination, undesirable substance that spoils something

b. the act of forbidding certain behavior

c. urgent, necessary, compulsory

d. forbidden by custom or religious practice

e. unwise, not careful

TODAY'S IDIOM

the first water-of the best quality, the greatest

Lebron James is obviously a basketball player of the first water who would be of enormous value to any team.



AN ABSURDITY Although it is probably universal human behavior to be contemptuous of the bizarre* superstitions practiced by inhabitants of unfamiliar cultures, it seems to be somewhat imprudent* to laugh at others before one takes a good, hard look at the absurd taboos* and fetishes* one accepts as part of one's everyday life. Isn't it somewhat absurd when the "dyed-in-the-wool" bigot, who illogically fears the taint* of close association with blacks (behavior that resembles fear of a taboo). spends most of the summer lying in the sun trying to acquire the color he claims to abhor? Since doctors tell us that excessive sun-tanning may be a cause of skin cancer, our strange yearning for sun-darkened skin has all the qualities of a fetish.*

NEW WORDS

universal ya· n~ ver· ~1

contemptuous kan temp· chO ~s

absurd ab serd·

bigot big· at

abhor abhor·

Sample Sentences Did the starred review words seem familiar to you? Yet, how many were totally foreign several days ago? Keep up the good work now by using your new words in the following sentences.

1. Bob felt of his best friend after he saw him cheating during an exam.

2. The teacher felt like laughing after he heard Sally's excuse for not having done her homework.

3. One politician, a notorious , hopes to get support as a presidential candidate on the basis of his prejudices and intolerance.

4. I some one who is constantly changing channels with a remote while I'm trying to read in the same room.

5. Would relations between countries be simpler if a ______ language were spoken rather than hundreds of separate ones?

Definitions Match your new words with their definitions.

6. abhor a. ridiculous

7. absurd b. present everywhere

8. bigot c. expressing a feeling that something is worthless

9. contemptuous __ d. a person who is intolerant of other people or ideas

1 0. universal e. to detest, to despise

TooAv's IDIOM

dyed-in-the-wool-set in one's ways

He was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican who would not consider voting for a Democrat.


NEW WORDS

vulnerable vur n~r ~ 1»1

entreaty entre· te

tradition tr~ dish' ~n

originate ~ Iif ~mit

inviolable In v1· ~ 1~ b~l


GESUNDHEIT! During the Middle Ages most people believed that the devil could enter our bodies when we sneezed, because at that propitious* moment we left our bodies vulnerable. However, this catastrophic* event could be avoided if another person immediately made an entreaty to God. This was how the practice began of saying "God bless you" after someone sneezes. Although the tradition continues today, few people are aware of its history. A superstition originates in ignorance-when people are unsure of the causes of events. But it continues inviolable over the years because it usually represents our deepest fears.

Sample Sentences Use these new words in the following sentences.

1. Some bad habits ______ in adolescence and continue throughout a person's life.

2. The murderer made a(n) to the governor for a pardon.

3. Despite the inexorable* torture, 007 kept the secret of the labyrinth* leading to the underground headquarters.

4. It appears that many computers are ______ to "viruses" that can cause great damage.

5. Eskimos have a(n) ______ of rubbing noses to show affection.

Definitions

6. vulnerable

7. entreaty

8. tradition

9. originate

10. inviolable

a. begin, arise

b. capable of being injured

c. custom that has been handed down

d. appeal, plea

e. safe (from destruction, etc.)

TODAY'S IDIOM

blue chip-a highly valuable asset, stock, or property In poker, the blue chips are those with the highest value.

My father's broker recommended that for safety we invest in blue chip stocks only.



And today it's time to strengthen your word knowledge again. You've noticed, of course, that the matching definitions are not always the definitions you may have been familiar with. This is the way language works. It is impossible to provide a one-word synonym or simple definition for a word that you will always be able to substitute for it. Therefore, in our weekly review we hope not only to check your learning. but also to teach you closely related meanings. Match the best possible definition with the word you studied. Write the letter that stands for that definition in the appropriate answer space.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. abhor a. a hand-made object 2. absurd b. unwise 3. anthropologist c. one who is not tolerant of others' ideas 4. artifact d. completely protected 5. bigot e. a magical object 6. bizarre f. widespread 7. contemptuous g. begin, arise 8. entreaty h. person who studies mankind's customs 9. fetish i. forbidden

10. imperative j. long-standing practice 11. imprudent k. weird 12. inanimate I. able to be hurt 13. inviolable m. looking down on someone or something 14. originate n. to utterly hate 15. prohibition o. without life 16. taboo P· forbidding of certain actions 17. taint q. necessary 18. tradition r. ridiculous 19. universal s. plea, appeal 20. vulnerable t. contaminate

IDIOMS 21. to get off one's high horse u. the greatest 22. of the first water 23. dyed-in-the-wool 24. blue chip

Check your answers on page 303. Record your errors and their correct meanings. These words must be studied independently if you want to master them. Use them in original sentences. Also, study the several different definitions a good dictionary provides for each of these problem words.

v. a highly valued asset w. to act like an ordinary person x. set in one's ways


1.

2.

3. -----------------

MEANINGS

149

ADJECTIVE LEADERS AND NOUN FOLLOWERS (From Weeks 21-24)

150

a. fulsome b. covert c. bona fide d. lush e. bizarre f. susceptible g. inviolable h. taboo i. catastrophic j. inanimate k. imprudent I. maladjusted m. connubial n. heterogeneous o. inordinate

Directions Write the letter corresponding to the vocabulary word (above) in the space provided opposite the noun (below) that it is most likely to precede.

1. bliss

2. diamond

3. praise

4. amount

5. incident

6. purchase

7. meeting

8. object

9. earthquake

10. law


WORDSEARCH 24

•!• Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following sto.ry with one of the new words you learned this week.

Map Makers at Work

We are all caught up in the events that change histo.ry and the shape of the

countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Each time a count.ry changes

its name or its borders, there are some people who have their work cut out

for them. They are the map makers-the cartographers. These skilled artists

know it is CD to believe that this year's borders will remain fixed. Has

there ever been an @~2 ____ border?

Looking through an atlas of just a few years back, we realize it is simply an

@ of an ever-changing world. If there is one thing for map makers

to do, it is to realize how @ it is for them to keep abreast of world

events.

The study of world histo.ry is replete with exciting events that have shaken

the economic and political past. Geography is the physical rendering of these

events. As history moves and changes our lives, it is up to the cartographer

to take the ® lines of a map and shape the picture of this world in

motion.

Clues

CD 2nd Day

@ 4th Day

@ 1st Day

@ 2nd Day

® 1st Day


NEW WORDS

awesome ci~m

eruption i rup' sh~n

puny pyii'ne

debris d~ bre'

dispersed dis persd'


THE EXPLOSION OF KRAKATOA There are few sights that are more impressive and awesome than the eruption of an active volcano. There are few natural events that so singularly* dwarf man's pWly attempts to control his environment. Perhaps the greatest volcanic eruption of modern times took place in 1883 when the island of Krakatoa in Indonesia blew up as the result of a volcanic explosion. An enormous tidal wave resulted that proved catastrophic* to the nearby coasts of Java and Sumatra. New islands were formed by the lava that poured out, and debris was scattered across the Indian Ocean for hundreds of miles. Volcanic material, dispersed seventeen miles into the atmosphere, created startlingly beautiful sunsets for years afterwards.

Sample Sentences Relying on the contextual clues in the paragraph above, use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Fred had been known for his gentle ways, so his friends were stunned by the ______ of angry words that issued from him.

2. We were surprised by the resistance put up by the voracious* tiger to its capture.

3. Mter her house had burned to the ground, Mrs. Wiley searched through the ______ for her valuable jewehy.

4. Many of those who witnessed tl1e first atomic explosion reported that it was an _____ sight.

5. The fluffy seeds of the milkweed are ______ by the wind.

Definitions Now take the final step in learning the new words.

6. awesome 7. debris 8. dispersed 9. eruption

10. puny

a. scattered, spread, broken up

b. weak, unimportant

c. inspiring terror, weird d. ruins, fragments

e. bursting out

TODAY'S IDIOM

as broad as it is long-it makes very little difference

Since both jobs pay $7.25 an hour and are equally boring, it is about as broad as it is long whether I take one or the other.


A UNIVERSAL* DANGER Man's ability to obliterate life on this planet has increased at a rapid rate. We are now faced with the deplorable prospect of new weapons that can cause destruction of life and property on a scale far beyond our imagination. No matter who takes the first step to initiate a conflict, the possibility exists that the conflagration will spread and envelop the world. Much thought has been given to ways and means of preventing this catastrophe.* Some consider it mandatory* that the nuclear powers seek agreement on methods of limiting and controlling these weapons, for in the absence of such an agreement, we may rue the day atomic energy was made practical.

Sample Sentences Complete the sentences by filling in the blanks.

NEW WORDS

obliterate ~but·~ rit

deplorable dt plor· ~ ~~

initiate 1 nish· eat

conflagration kon. n~ gra. sh~n

rue ni

1. Who could imagine a more bizarre* story than the one having to do with a cow causing the in Chicago?

2. No matter how one tries to delete material from a computer, it is almost impossible to it.

3. You will that display of histrionics• when I asked you to help.

4. She could not imagine how she was going to get him to a conversation about marriage.

5. The hometown fans thought the umpire's decision was ------

Definitions Let's put the new words together with their meanings.

6. obliterate a. regret

7. deplorable b. sad, pitiable

8. initiate c. erase, wipe out

9. conflagration d. start, set going

10. rue e. great fire

TODAY'S IDIOM

blow hot and cold-swing for and against something

I told Charlie to give up his summer job and come cross-country biking with us. He's blowing hot and cold on the deal at this point.


NEW WORDS

congenial k~nje' ny~l

hoard hord

sage saj

aegis e' jis

detriment det' r~ m~nt


TAKEN FOR GRANTED The presence of an ever-flowing supply of fresh, clean water is taken for granted. Unfortunately, this congenial condition is fast disappearing. As our population increases, as industry consumes more water each year, the level of our underground water supply sinks measurably. There is no way to hoard water: there are many ways to consetve it. During a particularly dry spell, New York City found its resetvoirs going dry. Only then did the residents begin to heed the sage advice to limit the wasteful uses of water. Under the aegis of the Water Commissioner, citizens were encouraged to develop habits that would save water. The continued imprudent* waste by each of us of this most basic resource will work to the detriment of all.

Sample Sentences Here's your opportunity to use your new words.

1. Isn't it a pity we can't ______ the ideal days of autumn?

2. A man may be a everywhere, but at home he's called a "square" by his youngsters.

3. The tree in front of my house has the dubious* honor of being the spot voted the most by the dogs of the neighborhood.

4. It was fortuitous* that at the last moment the mayor offered the ______ of his office in finding a solution to the problem.

5. A settlement that causes ______ to neither side is imperative.*

Definitions Remember, words may have many synonyms.

6. congenial a. injury, damage, hurt

7. hoard (v.) b. sympathetic, agreeable

8. sage c. shield, protection, sponsorship

9. aegis d. hide, store, accumulate

10. detriment e. wise man, philosopher

TODAY'S IDIOM

in the doldrums-in a bored or depressed state

Mary has been in the doldrums since her best friend moved away.


WEEK 25 •:• DAY 4 NEW WORDS

AN AGELESS STORY Evecy so often we can read about a man or woman who has reached an age far beyond the limits we ordinartly expect. Reports of a man in Chile or a woman in Turkey who has celebrated the 105th or llOth birthday occur regularly. The natural question is, to what do these people owe their longevitY? Frequently, the answer concerns the fact that the ancient one liked to imbibe regularly of some hard liquor. The photograph will show an apparently vi.Tile man or robust woman. Somehow, people who reach this advanced age seem to remain eternally sturdy. There are no signs that they have become senile Smoking a pipe, or sewing on some garment, these rare specimens of hardy humanity are far from the doddering folk we expect to see.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

longevity Ion jev· t) te

imbibe im bib"

virile vir· tll

senile se· nil

doddering dod" tlr ing

1. Far from being ______ , the old woman was considered the sage• of the neighborhood.

2. Scientists have placed the ______ of the planet earth unbelievably into the future.

3. It was deplorable* for us to see her ______ around the house with the aid of a cane.

4. If you ______ , don't drive!

5. The boys struck poses to attract the girls on the beach.

Definitions Here's your chance to match the new words with their meaning.

6. longevity a. long duration of life

7. imbibe b. masterful, manly

8. virile c. drink

9. senile d. infirm, weak from old age

10. doddering e. trembling, shaking

TODAY'S IDIOM

burn the midnight oil-study or work late into the night If I'm going to pass the test tomorrow, I will have to bum the midnight oU tonight.



Week by week your word-power is being built. It's like putting money in the bank. Remember. in our language there may be many synonyms and related meanings for each word. Knowing one synonym is good, but you will reap greater benefits from knowing several. Below is the matching review for this week.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. aegis a. trembling. shaking with old age 2. awesome b. regret 3. conflagration c. bursting out 4. congenial d. infirm. weak as a result of old age 5. debris e. wise man, philosopher 6. deplorable f. ruins. fragments 7. detriment g. weak, unimportant 8. dispersed h. protection. sponsorship. shield 9. doddering . i. agreeable. sympathetic

10. eruption j. broken up. scattered. spread 11. hoard k. sad. pitiable 12. imbibe I. hurt. damage. injury 13. initiate m. drink 14. longevity n. great fire 15. obliterate o. manly. masterful 16. puny p. inspiring terror. weird 17. rue q. set going. start 18. sage r. accumulate. save, store up 19. senile s. long duration of life 20. virile t. wipe out. erase

IDIOMS 21. as broad as it is long u. in a bored or depressed state 22. blow hot and cold 23. in the doldrums 24. burn the midnight oil

Check your answers on page 303. Don't neglect words you fail to answer correctly. These problem words can be mastered quickly if you write them down, look up their meanings, and practice using them.

156

v. makes very little difference w. swing for and against something x. work late into the night


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 25


Save the Whales, at Least

11ave we all become tired of the much used word "environment"?

How often we hear or read about the <D state of the world's rivers,

forests, air, and earth. When we lose sight of the fact that countless numbers

of creatures have become extinct because their environment could no longer

sustain them, then we ignore the possibility that these same changes could

<V many species that we take for granted.

Our life-style, and that of the billions of others on this earth, puts waste into

the air and water. We may® this careless behavior. While there may

still be enough clean water and air for us, the loss of animals and plants can

only be a @ to a good life for the generations that follow.

No one suggests that the solutions to our environmental problems are easy.

The nations and people of the world are in competition for the limited riches

of this planet. It will take the sagest and most dedicated leaders, under whose

® educated and concerned citizens will live and work, to protect the

environment.

Clues

CD 2nd Day

@ 2nd Day

® 2nd Day

® 3rd Day

® 3rd Day


NEW WORDS

lethargic ~~their- jik

prevalent prev· ~ l~nt

paramount par·~ mount

remiss ri mis·

hostile hos·u


INFORMING THE PUBLIC Public opinion ha..q an important place in a democracy. The public, often lethargit; ts susceptible* to a wide variety of influences. The most prevalentof these is the mass media. These communications media-the press, radio, and television-have a paramount position In initiating, • influencing, and shaping public opinion. Bearing this responsibility, the mass media are often accused of being remissin their duty to inform the public. There has b'--.: .... ~

great deal of hostilecomment leveled against these opinion molders.

Sample Sentences Based upon your understanding of the new words as discovered from the context. place t..ltem in the spaces provided.

1. The audience became e.nremely ______ when the bigot• began to attack minority groups.

2. Long hair among boys is so ______ today, there is no longer a prohibition against it in most schools.

3. We are all susceptible* to a ______ feeling after a heavy meal.

4. A good politician seeks the issue in his c-ommunity.

5. We would be if we overlooked the importance of the Internet to the interchange of ideas and .information.

Definitions Matching words and definjtlons will prove you've learned them.

6. lethargic a. prevailing, common, general

7. prevalent b. lazy, indifferent

8. paramount c. antagonistic, angry

9. remiss d. supreme, foremost

10. hostile e. careless, negligent

TODAY'S IDIOM

to split hairs-to make fine distinctions The mother and child spent a great deal of time arguing about the

hair-splitting question of whether •going to bed• meant lights out or not.



THE LACK OF FOREIGN NEWS The critics rebuke the press for the fact that most newspapers devote somewhat less than 10 percent of their news space to foreign items. In many hundreds of papers this falls below two percent. Why is there thtsaversion to foreign news? Newsmen claim that readersevince no interest in foreign affairs. In order to increase reader interest in foreign news, the vogue among editors is to sensationalize it to the point of distortion. Many other papers do only the most superficial kind of reporting in this area.

Sample Sentences Insert the new words in these sentences.

1. The female to mice is considered absurd• by boys.

NEW WORDS

rebuke ti bylik.

aversion ~ ver· zh~n

evince i vtns·

vogue vog

superficial st:i" ~r fish· ~1

2. Mer a examination of the injured motorist, the doctor said that hospitalization was imperative. •

3. Many a husband has been given a for having imbibed* too fully at an office party.

4. Youngsters often do not ______ any curiosity about the lives of their parents or grandparents.

5. Good manners are always in _____ _

Definitions Match the new words with theh· definitions.

6. rebuke {v.) a. on the surface, sUght

7. aversion b. criticize, reproach, reprtmand

8. evince c. strong dislike, opposition

9. vogue d. fashion

1 0. superficial e. show plainly, exhibit

TODAY'S IDIOM

to strike while the iron is hot-to take an action at the right moment

As soon as John heard that his father had won in the lottery, he struck while the iron was hot and asked for an increase ln his allowance.


NEw WoRDS

jettison jet" C) SC)n

inevitable in ev· C) b hal

lucrative hi' m tiv

tussle tus· C)}

intrinsic in tnn· sik

WEEK 2 6 •!• DAY J

PLAYING IT SAFE The average newspaper office receives many times the amount of foreign news than it has space to print. The editor must include or jettison items as he sees fit. It is inevitable that his ideas of what the reader want to know, or should know, are decisive. Because the newspaper owners do not want to endanger a lucrative business, there is the constant tussle between personal opinion and the desire not to offend too many readers or advertisers. It is intrinsic to the operation of all mass media that they avoid being extremist in their news coverage or editorials.


1. Our conscience must always against our yearning* for what we know is taboo.•

2. Man sets the price of gold; it has no value.

3. The pilot decided it would be imprudent• to his fuel over the populated area.

4. It is ______ that children question what their elders accept as tradition. •

5. Each year the contracts offered to star sports figures become more _____ _


6. jettison a. sure, certain, unavoidable

7. inevitable b. essential, natural, inborn

8. lucrative c. a rough struggle

9. tussle (n.) d. profitable

1 0. intrinsic e. throw overboard, discard

TooAY's IDIOM

once in a blue moon--on a very rare occasion

His wife complained that they go out to dinner and a show once in a blue moon



A FAVORITE NEWS SOURCE The electronic media-television and radio-have more acute problems than does the press when it comes to news reporting. A normal broadcast can cover only a small part of a news day. The object is to transmit the gist of a story without supplying its background. Another difficulty of electronic news broadcasting is its transient nature; the viewers or listeners may miss an important story if their attention wanders. On the other hand, because radio and television present news in a more terse and exciting way, they are accepted as the most cogent presentation of news and are preferred and believed above newspapers by most people.

Sample Sentences A slow and thorough study is needed today.

acute ~ kyiit'

gist jist

transient tran··sh~nt

terse tc~rs

cogent ko· J~nt

1. After the catastrophe,* there was an ______ need for emergency housing.

2. The young lover was susceptible* to feelings of jealousy when he saw his sweetheart dancing with his best friend.

3. She tried to get the of her message into a 25-word telegram.

4. The mayor made a statement in which he rebuked* his election opponent for making a contemptuous* accusation.

5. The best debator makes the most presentation.

Definitions This day's work requires careful study.

6. acute

7. gist

8. transient

9. terse

10. cogent

a. forceful, convincing, persuasive

b. concise, brief, compact

c. essence, main point

d. passing, short -lived, fleeting

e. sharp, keen, severe

TODAY'S IDIOM

sleep on it-postpone a decision while giving it some thought He didn't want to show his hand* immediately, so he

agreed to sleep on it for a few more days.



If you've ever watched or played baseball. you know how important a base hit is to each batter. Before the game players spend as much time as possible taking their batting practice. During the game the batter concentrates on every pitch. In the same way, each day you are getting in your "batting practice," and the weekly review is your chance· to build up your "batting average." Collect new words with the same concentration that baseball players collect base hits.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. acute a. show plainly, exhibit 2. aversion b. fleeting. passing, short-lived 3. cogent c. throw overboard, discard 4. evince d. forceful. convincing, persuasive 5. gist e. on the surface, slight 6. hostile f. a rough struggle 7. inevitable g. compact. brief, concise 8. intrinsic h. reprimand, reproach, criticize 9. jettison i. tnborn, natural, essential

1 0. lucrative j. fashion 11. paramount k. main point, essence 12. prevalent I. severe, keen, sharp 13. rebuke m. lazy, indifferent 14. remiss n. negligent, careless 15. superficial o. unavoidable, certain, sure 16. lethargic p. opposition, strong dislike 17. terse q. foremost, supreme 18. transient r. general, common, prevailing 19. tussle s. angry, antagonistic 20. vogue t. profitable

IDIOMS 21. to strike while the iron is hot u. on a very rare occasion 22. to split hairs 23. sleep on it 24. once in a blue moon

Check your Jnswers on page 303. Take that extra moment

v. postpone a decision w. take action at the right moment x. to make a fine distinction


now to review and study the 1. ---------words you got wrong.

2. ---------

3. ---------

162

WORDSEARCH 26


The Wild West

History tells us that, in a showdown 1n 1881, a notorious outlaw, Billy the

Kid, was killed. At least that is the <D belief. The real Billy the Kid,

V/illiam Bonney, is believed to have escaped and lived for many years in

Texas. In fact, a man named Brushy Bill Roberts claimed to be the grown-up

Billy the Kid.

When Roberts died in 1950, there was the....::® ____ question about his

true identity. As a result, a computer was brought in to test whether there

was anything other than a ® resemblance between the two men. A

photo of the Kid and a photo of Roberts were compared on the computer.

In a @ report from the computer technician, the identity of Roberts

was proved to be different from that of ihe real Billy the Kid. Thus, computer

analysis allows us to ® the idea that Billy the Kid survived the

famous gun duel.

Clues

<D 1st Day

® 3rd Day

® 2nd Day

@ 4th Day

® 3rd Day


NEW WORDS

pinnacle pin·5 k~l

array ~ ra.'

obscure ~b skytir·

ardent ard· nt

culminate kul' m~ nat

WEEK 2 7 •!• DAY 1

A MUSICAL WORLD Music reached its pinnacle in the nineteenth century. Every leading nation produced its share of great composers. There was a bewildering array of national schools and musical styles as the once obscure musician came into his own. Music became a widespread and democratic art. The ardent music lover turned to Vienna as the music center at the beginning of the nineteenth century. However, Paris was not far behind, especially in the field of operatic music. As the century progressed, the Germans became paramount* in orchestral and symphonic music. The growth of German music can be said to have culminated with Ludwig van Beethoven.

Sample Sentences Take command of the new words in these sentences.

1. The president faced an imposing of reporters.

2. The party will with the award for the most original costume.

3. The ______ of fame and success is often a transient* stage.

4. The baseball fan went to every home game.

5. Space telescopes are making our ______ planets ever clearer.

Definitions Match-up time for new words and definitions.

6. pinnacle

7. array

8. obscure (adj.)

9. ardent

10. culminate

164

a. passionate, eager

b. summit, peak, top, crown

c. arrangement, system

d. unknown, lowly, unclear

e. reach the highest point

TODAY'S IDIOM

to break the ice-to make a beginning, to overcome stiffness between strangers

All after-dinner speakers break the ice by telling a story or joke at the start of their speeches.


WEEK 2 7 •!• DAY 2

A GIANT COMPOSER Beethoven was able to free music from the traditions• that had tended to constrict it. He was a child prodigy who held an important musical post at the age of 14. He was a successful concert pianist, but when his health began to fail he turned to composing. Even though bereft of hearing at the age of 49, he did not falter in his work. Some of his later compositions reflect his sadness with his physical condition, but they also evince• an exultation about man and life.

Sample Sentences Place the new words in these sentences.

1. The catastrophe* left him ______ of all his possessions.

NEW WORDS

constrict k~n strtkt·

prodigy prod·~ je

bereft bi reft·

falter for t~r

exultation eg· zul ta · sh~n

2. She was filled with when she learned her SAT score was near the maximum.

3. It is imprudent• for a youngster to ______ her circle of friends so that there is no opportunity to meet new people.

4. There is universal* wonder when some appears on the stage to perform at the age of 4 or 5.

5. Though he knew well the danger involved, the knight did not as he entered the dragon's cave.

Definitions Your personal test follows through matching.

6. constrict a. triumphant joy

7. prodigy b. stumble, hesitate, waver

8. bereft c. deprived of

9. falter d. limit, bind, squeeze

1 0. exultation e. marvel, phenomenon

TODAY'S IDIOM

loaded for bear-to be well prepared

When the enemy finally attacked the positions, the defenders were loadedfor bear.


NEW WORDS

vitriolic vtt• re or ik

invective in vek' ttv

besmirch bi smerch"

voluminous va Iii rna nas

retrospect ret' ra spekt

WEEK 2-7 •!• DAY 3

A WORTHY SUCCESSOR A successor to Beethoven was Johannes Brahms. Also a prodigy,* he was the object of vitriolic attacks by other composers because of the individuality of his work. They heaped invective upon him for the intensely emotional quality and Germanic style of his writings. However, it was impossible to besmirch his talents for long, and he was soon one of the most popular composers in Europe. He produced voluminous varieties of compositions. Today, in retrospect, his originality is appreciated, and he is placed among the top romantic composers.

Sample Sentences Complete the following sentences with the new words.

1. It is difficult t.o keep ______ out of our discussion about the enemy.

2. One has to be amazerl"' at the amount of information that can be stored on a computer chip.

3. The candidate trted to ______ his opponent's record.

4. In the future we will, in , regard today's bizarre* behavior as quite ordinary.

5. The ______ language used by critics of the new play tended to obliterate* its good qualities.

Definitions Study the paragraph and sample sentences for the meanings.

6. vitriolic

7. invective

8. besmirch

9. voluminous

1 0. retrospect

166

a. insulting, abusive speech

b. bulky, large

c. soil, stain, dim the reputation

d. biting. burning

e. looking backward

TODAY'S IDIOM

to bring down the house--to cause great enthusiasm

Popular entertainers can be counted on to bring down the house at every public performance.



GRUFF BUT LIKEABLE In his private life Brahms was considered by his friends as an egotist He had an extremely lofty opinion of himself and his talents. He was not noted for his humility Along with this quality. Brahms was known for his pungent sense of humor. While his closest friends could accept his biting jokes, others found him difficult to warm up to. Brahms was an inveterate stay-at-home. Cambridge University conferred an honorary degree upon him, but he was adamantabout staying at home and did not go to receive the honor. Despite the. ardent• and romantic nature of his music, Brahms never found the right girl and remained single throughout his life.


egotist e· g; tist

humility hyO mn· ~ te

pungent pun· j;nt

inveterate in vet• er it

adamant ad· 0) mant

1. Doctors agree that it is imperative• that ______ smokers give up that imprudent* habit.

2. The ______ odor of burning leaves marks the autumn season.

3. The umpire was ______ about his decision to call the runner out.

4. \Ve all expect ______ from the actors and actresses who win the Academy Awards.

5. However, we should not be surprised that an award winner is an _____ _ about his or her performance.

Definitions Make the new words yours through the match-ups.

6. egotist

7. humility

8. pungent

9. inveterate

10. adamant

a. humbleness, modesty, meekness

b. a vain, conceited person

c. unyielding, inflexible

d. sharply stimulating, biting

e. ~abitual, firmly established

TODAY'S IDIOM

to pull one·s weight-to do a fair share of the work Everyone in a pioneer family had to puU his or her own weight.

ANSWERS ARE ON rAGE 304 167

REVIEW WEEK 2 7 •:• DAY 5

Another week to build your vocabulary. Words stand for "things." The more "things" you can recognize, the better able you are to deal with the complicated and changing world. New and unusual situations are more easily handled by those who can utilize the largest number of "things" we call words.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. adamant a. reach the highest point 2. ardent b. inflexible, unyielding 3. array c. triumphant joy 4. bereft d. looking backward 5. besmirch e. peak, crown, summit 6. constrict f. a conceited, vain person 7. culminate g. bind, limit, squeeze 8. egotist h. biting, burning 9. exultation i. insulting, abusive speech

10. falter j. system, arrangement 11. humility k. modesty, meekness, humbleness 12. invective I. phenomenon, marvel 13. inveterate m. stain, soil, dim the reputation 14. obscure n. sharply stimulating 15. pinnacle o. deprived of 16. prodigy p. bulky, large 17. pungent q. hesitate, waver, stumble 18. retrospect r. eager, passionate 19. vitriolic s. firmly established, habitual 20. voluminous t. unclear, unknown, lowly

IDIOMS 21. to break the ice u. to be well prepared 22. to pull one's own weight v. to cause great enthusiasm 23. to bring down the house w. to make a beginning 24. loaded for bear

Check your answers on page 304. A word missed can now be made part of your vocabulary quite easily. Review the paragraph, sample sentence, definition, and then write your own sentence using the word.

168

x. to do a fair share of the work


1. ------------------

2. ------------------

3. ------------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 27


Hot Enough For Youl

In CD the year 1990 was a year of record high temperatures across

the United States. The cause of this problem is complex. There are many

proposed explanations, from an increase of population to the greenhouse

effect. If. in fact, temperatures are continuing to rise as a result of human

activity. there should be an® search for the causes and the cures.

Scientists are looking into even the most ® aspects of modem society

to determine what might be the long-range effects of our activities. They hope

that investigations will ® in a program to change the harmful ways

we contribute to a dangerous trend.

A small increase in the earth's temperature.wflllead to major difficulties for

everyone. We should not ...::® ____ in our efforts to avoid such disasters.

Clues

Q) 3rd Day

@ lst Day

® 1st Day

@ 1st Day

® 2nd Day


NEW WORDS

vulnerable vul' n~r ~ b~l

bedlam bed' l~m

cacophony k~ kof ~ ni

exploit eks' ploit

propinquity pro ping' ~ tt


A DANGEROUS SPORT Racing car drivers are vulnerable to dangers that other sportsmen seldom face. Drivers agree that controlling a car at top speeds on a winding course is a singularly* awesome* experience. There is the bedlam caused by the roaring motors that move the car from a standing start to 100 miles an hour in eight seconds. One is shaken by the cacophony of the brakes, larger than the wheels and producing during the course of a 350-mile race enough heat to warm an eightroom house through a hard winter. The driver needs to be on the alert to exploit any mistake by an opponent, and he must be constantly aware of the propinquity of sudden death. All of this makes car racing one of the most demanding games of all.

How was yow· recall today? Did you spot vulnerable as a reintroduced word?

Sample Sentences Insert the new words in the sentences.

1. Astronauts are alert to the ______ of sudden accidents.

2. The egotist* is to slights and insults.

3. Electronic music is considered nothing more or less than by many.

4. Advertisers spend large sums to the lucrative* teenage market.

5. The winning team's dressing room was a scene of _____ _

Definitions Match your new words to their defmitions.

6. vulnerable a. discord, harsh sound, dissonance

7. bedlam b. open to attack, susceptible

8. cacophony c. profit by, utilize

9. exploit (v.) d. nearness in time or place

10. propinquity e. confusion, uproar

TODAY'S IDIOM

a white elephant-a costly and useless possession

When he discovered the 30-volume encyclopedia, dated 1895, in his attic, he knew he had a white eleplw.nt on his hands.



THE MYSTERY OF CREATIVITY In order to create, it is said that a man must be disgruntled. The creative individual is usually one who is dissatisfied with things as they are; he wants to bring something new into the world-to make it a different place. There is no infallible way to identify a potentially creative person. The speed-up tn the sciences has forced schools and industry to seek a pwtacea for the shortages that they face. The need to discover and develop the creative person has been the source of much study. The paramount• objectives of the studies are to eradicate anything that w1ll impede the discovery of creative talent and to exploit* this talent to the limit.

Sample Sentences Place the new words in these sentences.

NEw WoRDS

disgruntled dis grun · bld

infallible in far~ ool

panacea pan·.~ se· ~

eradicate 1 rad'·l kat

impede im ped'

1. It is the prevalent• mood for youngsters to be ______ with the world situation.

2. Many people hoped that the United Nations would be the for the problems of our time.

3. The criminal trted to all of the witnesses to the bizarre* murder.

4. An ______ sign of spring is the blooming of the crocus.

5. Nothing could the bigot• from his vitriolic* verbal attack.


6. disgruntled a. exempt from error, right

7. infallible b. unhappy, displeased

8. panacea c. wipe out

9. eradicate d. cure-all

10. impede e. interfere. block, hinder

TODAY'S IDIOM

lock, stock, and barrel-entirely, completely The company moved its operations to another state lock, stock, and barrel


NEW WORDS

sedate si dat'

equanimity e' ~ ntm' ~ te compatible k~m pat'~ ~1

serenity ~ ren';,) te revere ri vir'

WEEK 28 •:• DAY J

THE DUTCH The first impression one gets of Holland is that it is a calm, sedate and simple land. The slow rhythm of life is even seen in the barges on the canals and the bicycles on the roads. One gradually discovers this equanimity of daily existence is not in accord with the intrinsic* nature of the Dutch. These people are moved by strong feelings that are not compatible with the serenity of the world around them. There is a conflict between the rigid, traditional* social rules and the desire for liberty and independence, both of which the Dutch revere

Sample Sentences Pay attention to the fine differences in meaning.

1. There is something absurd* about a well-dressed, ______ man throwing snowballs.

2. The of the countryside was shattered by the explosion.

3. The speaker lost his and began to use invective* when the audience started to laugh.

4. The boy and girl discovered they had many ______ interests.

5. There are not many people in this world whom one can _____ _


6. sedate a. peaceful repose

7. equanimity b. quiet, stlll, undisturbed, sober

8. compatible c. evenness of mind, composure

9. serenity d. honor, respect, admire

10. revere e. harmonious, well-matched

TODAY'S IDIOM

a feather in one's cap--something to be proud of

If she could get the movie star's autograph, she knew it would be a feather in her cap.



TULIP FEVER The tulip reached Holland in 1593 and was, at first. looked upon as a curiosity. There soon developed an irrational demand for new species. Specimens were sold at awesomely* high prices. In their avarice, speculators bought and sold the same tulip ten times in one day. The entire Dutch population suffered from the craze. There was an insatiable desire for each new color or shape. At one point a man purchased a house for three bulbs! Before long the inevitable* crash came and the demand for bulbs quickly reached its nadir. A $1,500 bulb could be bought for $1.50. With the moribund tulip market came financial disaster to thousands of people.

Sample Sentences Fill in the blank spaces with the new words.

1. Who is not vulnerable* to some measure of ______ ?

NEW WORDS

irrational i rash' ~n ~1

avarice av' ~r Is

insatiable in sa. sm l»l

nadir ni'dar

moribund m6r'~ bund

2. The American consumer appears to have an need for new products.

3. He looked upon the last-place finish of his team with equanimity;* from this ______ the only place to go was up.

4. We ought to expect some behavior from a senile* person.

5. With the expansion of the supermarket, the small, local grocery store is in a ______ state.


6. irrational a. lowest point

7. avarice b. dying, at the point of death

8. insatiable c. unreasonable, absurd

9. nadir d. greed, passion for riches

10. moribund e. cannot be satisfied

TODAY'S IDIOM

out on a limb--in a dangerous or exposed position

He went out on a limb and predicted he would win the election by a wide margin.



You have been learning how to use many new words by seeing them in a natural situation. Each day's story is the setting in which you meet the new words. The weekly review enables you to isolate the word and its many meanings. In this way you can reinforce your understanding and word power. At this point you have learned almost 600 words. Keep up the good work.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. avarice a. susceptible, open to attack 2. bedlam b. exempt from error, right 3. cacophony c. well-matched, harmonious 4. compatible d. lowest point 5. disgruntled e. at the point of death, dying 6. equanimity f. peaceful repose 7. eradicate g. cure-all 8. exploit h. uproar, confusion 9. impede i. harsh sound, discord, dissonance

1 0. infallible j. wipe out 11. insatiable k. sober, still, quiet, undisturbed 12. irrational I. nearness in time and place 13. moribund m. displeased, unhappy 14. nadir n. absurd, unreasonable 15. panacea o. cannot be satisfied 16. propinquity p. utilize, profit by 17. revere q. composure, evenness of mind 18. sedate r. passion for riches, greed 19. serenity s. hinder, interfere, block 20. vulnerable t. admire, respect, honor

IDIOMS __ 21. lock, stock, and barrel __ 22. out on a limb

u. a costly and useless possession v. entirely, completely

__ 23. a feather in one's cap __ 24. a white elephant

The answers can be found on page 304. Consistent study and use of difficult words will work quickly to bring them into your daily vocabulary.

174

w. in a dangerous or exposed position x. something to be proud of


1.

2.

3.

DOING DOUBLE DUTY (From Weeks 25-28)

•!• Select seven of the twelve words below that can be used as more than one part of speech (for example: noun and verb, noun and adjective). Then compose sentences using each word both ways.

1. hoard 2. revere 3. transient 4. pungent 5. falter 6. sedate 7. sage 8. rebuke 9. paramount

10. obscure 11. exploit 12. senile


WORDSEARCH 28

176


Head My lips

For many years it has been the goal of computer specialists to perfect a

machine that would understand human speech. The problem is that the

speaker has to be alone and in a quiet room. Noise will Q) the

computer's ability. In the® of a special room, the computer works

well.

Now, math wizards are trying to develop a computer that will read lips despite

any surrounding ® . While some of us think it ® to believe

that a computer can read lips, the experiments go on. And there has been

some success.

Progress in all aspects of computer science has been so remarkable that we

hesitate to rule out any possibility. There is one® rule about the

world of computers: the seemingly impossible gets done more quickly than

we ever imagined.

Clues

CD 2nd Day·

@ 3rd Day

® lst Day

@ 4th Day

®2nd Day



A SPORT FOR EVERYONE Of the many highly popular sports in the United States, football must be rated around the top. This sport allows the speedy and lithe athlete to join with the slower and obsese one in a team effort. The skills and strengths of many men are welded together so that one team may work as a unit to gain mastery over its opponent. The knowledgeable adherent of a team can follow action covering many parts of the playing field at the same time. He is in a state ofbliss when his team executes a movement to perfection. However, there is no one more pathetic than the same fan when the opposition functions to equal perfection.


NEW WORDS

lithe li:t:H

obese obes'

adherent ad hir· ~nt

bliss blls

pathetic I» thet" ik

1. The disgruntled* ______ switched his loyalty to the opposition party.

2. It was a pleasure to watch the ______ body of the ballet dancer as she performed the most difficult steps.

3. There is something about a great athlete who continues to compete long after he has been bereft• of his talents.

4. His insatiable* hunger for sweets soon made him _____ _

5. Oh, what could be seen in the eyes of the ardent• couple as they announced their engagement!


6. lithe a. backer, supporter

7. obese b. very fat

8. adherent c. sad, pitiful, distressing

9. bliss d. graceful

1 0. pathetic e. happiness, pleasure

TooAv's IDIOM

on the spur of the moment-on impulse, without thinking

On the spur of the TTWment he turned thumbs down* on the new job.


NEW WORDS

exhort eg zort'

apathy ap' ~the

fracas fni' bs

inebriated in e' bre a tid

adversary ad' ~r ser' e


RAH! RAH! RAH! The spectators at a football game play more than a superficial* role. A spirited cheer from the stands often gives the player on the field a reason to try even harder. Cheer leaders exhort the fans, who may be in a state of apathy because their team is losing, to spur on the team. In particularly close games between rivals of long standing, feelings begin to run high, and from time to time a fracas may break out in the stands. WhUe the teams compete below, the fan who is a bit inebriated may seek out a personal adversary. On the whole the enthusiasm of the spectators is usually constricted• to cheering and shouting for their favorite teams.

Sample Sentences Complete the sentences with the new words.

1. The feeling of was so prevalent• during the election campaign that the candidates hardly bothered to make speeches.

2. Doctors obese• individuals to go on diets.

3. He was usually sedate, • but when he became hostile. •

4. The started when he besmirched* my good name.

5. My ______ became disgruntled* because my arguments were so cogent. •


6. exhort a. opponent, enemy, foe

7. apathy b. drunk, intoxicated

8. fracas c. lack of interest, unconcern

9. inebriated d. urge strongly, advise

10. adversary e. noisy fight, brawl

TODAY'S IDIOM

a fly in the ointment-some small thing that spoils or lessens the enjoyment He was offered a lucrative• position with the firm, but the fly in the ointment was that he would have to work on Saturday and Sunday.



THE 23-INCH FOOTBALL FIELD The football fan who cannot attend a contest in person may watch any number of games on television. This has the great advantage of pennittlng an indolent fan to sit in the comfort of his living room and watch two teams play in the most inclement* weather. However, some of the spirit, the gusto, is missing when one watches a game on a small screen away from the actual scene of the contest. Also, the viewer is constantly exposed to a ga.rrul.ous group of announcers who continue to chatter in an endless way throughout the afternoon. Should the game be a dull one, the announcers discuss the most banal bits of information. Even in the poorest game there is constant chatter involving one platitude after another about the laudable* performances of each and every player.

Sample Sentences Insert the new words in the sentences.

NEW WORDS

indolent ln' dl ~nt

gusto gus' to

garrulous gar'~l~s

banal bi' nl

platitude plat'~ tQd

1. He began to eat the food served at the sumptuous feast with _____ _

2. Men believe that women's conversation is filled with ______ comments concerning clothing or food.

3. During the most sultry* days of summer, one often hears the ______ , "Is it hot enough for you?"

4. The ______ person goes to great lengths to eschew* work.

5. She was usually so ______ , we considered anything under a five minute speech as a cryptic* remark.


6. indolent a. enthusiasm, enjoyment, zest

7. gusto b. commonplace or trite saying

8. garrulous c. lazy

9. banal d. talkative, wordy

1 0. platitude e. trivial, meaningless from overuse

TODAY'S IDIOM

to take French leave-to go away without permission

The star player was fined $100 when he took French leave from the tratntng camp.


NEW WORDS

pique pek

dilettante dil ~ Ulnt'

atypical a up·~ k~I nondescript non· d~ skript

wane wan


WHAT'S ON? One day each week is set aside for college football, and another for the professional brand. Most fans enjoy both varieties. Nothing can put an avid* viewer into a pique more quickly than missing an important contest. It is the dilettante who eschews• the amateur variety and watches only the professional games. The atypical fan will watch only his home team play; however, enthusiasts will continue to view the most nondescript contests involving teams that have no connection with their own town or school. Some intrepid* fans have been known to watch high school games when that was all that was offered. Public interest in football grows each year, while interest in other sports may be on the wane.

Sample Sentences Complete these sentences with the new words.

1. The ______ will scoff* at those who admit that they know very little about modern art.

2. It is the ______ fisherman who does not embellish* the story about the fish that got away.

3. The detective had little to go on because of the ______ nature of the criminal.

4. Many virulent• diseases are now on the _____ _

5. He showed his by slamming the door.


6. pique a. decrease, decline

7. dilettante b. fit of resentment

8. atypical c. one who has great interest, but little knowledge

9. nondescript d. nonconforming

10. wane (n.) e. undistinguished, difficult to describe

TODAY'S IDIOM

in the arms of Morpheus-asleep; Morpheus was the Roman god of dreams

The day's activities were so enervating, he was soon in the arms of Morpheus.



The regular, consistent study of these daily stories is the salient• clue to your success. Sporadic* study tends to disrupt the learning process. Don't give in to the temptation to put your work aside and then rush to "catch up."

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. adherent a. urge strongly, advise 2. adversary b. enemy, foe, opponent 3. apathy c. graceful 4. atypical d. pitiful, sad, distressing 5. banal e. lazy 6. bliss f. meaningless from overuse, trivial 7. dilettante g. fit of resentment 8. exhort h. difficult to describe, undistinguished 9. fracas i. unconcern, lack of interest

10. garrulous j. intoxicated, drunk 11. gusto k. very fat 12. indolent I. pleasure, happiness 13. inebriated m. zest, enjoyment, enthusiasm 14. lithe n. trite saying 15. nondescript o. one with little knowledge and great interest 16. obese p. nonconforming 17. pathetic q. brawl, noisy fight 18. pique r. supporter, backer 19. platitude s. wordy, talkative 20. wane t. decline, decrease

IDIOMS 21. on the spur of the moment u. asleep 22. in the arms of Morpheus v. something that spoils or lessens the enjoyment 23. to take French leave w. to go away without permission 24. a fly in the ointment x. without thinking, on impulse


Check your answers on page 304. Quick reinforcement of 1. ---------words you do not yet know will help you retain them. 2. ---------Right now ... put down the

words and meanings. Then, 3. ---------write a sentence using the word correctly.

MEANINGS

181

WORDSEARCH 29

182

•!• Using the clues listed below, flU in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Each Citizen~ Ohligation

Of all the democracies in the world, the United States has the most lackluster

record when it comes to citizen participation in elections. Every four years the

experts try to analyze the reasons for voter CD • Often the eligible voter

turnout at election time falJs below 50%. This, after months of political

campaigning, including televised debates, is a ® situation.

No matter how hard the candidates woo the voters, the end results are often

disappointing. Are the voters so ® that they would rather stay home

watching television than cast a ballot? Does the voter feel that the candidates

are stating one @) after another and is therefore turned off?

The right to vote is so precious that revolutions have taken place where it has

been denied. The civil rights struggles of the past .were sparked by those who

had been denied this right. The greatest ® of democracy in this

country is said to be the failure of citizen participation in the election process.

Clues

Q) 2nd Day

® 1st Day

® 3rd Day

@ 3rd Day

® 2nd Day



IN DAYS GONE BY The man who best described the now extinct Ufe aboard a steamer on the Mississippi River is Mark Twain. Having actually worked aboard the river boats, his writing captures the tranquil* or turbulent• events of those days. In his book about Ufe on the Mississippi, Twain recalls the idyllic times when man was not in such a great rush to get from one place to another. One chapter deals with the races conducted between the swiftest of the boats. When a race was set, the excitement would galvanize activity along the river. Politics and the weather were forgotten, and people talked with gusto• only of the coming race. The two steamers "stripped" and got ready; evecy encumbrance that might slow the passage was removed. Captains went to extremes to lighten their boats. Twain writes of one captain who scraped the paint from the gaudy figure that hung between the chimneys of his steamer.


1. Today, the trend* is to more and more dress.

NEW WORDS

extinct ek stingkt'

idyllic i dil' tk

galvanize gal' v~ niz

encumbrance en kum' brans

gaudy go' de

2. It is amazing how lithe* football players can be, despite the ______ of the safety features of their uniforms.

3. The dinosaur is an ______ species.

4. City dwellers often yearn for the ______ life in the country.

5. A dictator will use any pretext• to his people into aggressive actions.


6. extinct

7. idyllic

8. galvanize

9. encumbrance

10. gaudy

a.

b. c. d.

e.

burden, handicap, load

showy, flashy

simple, peaceful

excite or arouse to activity

no longer existing

TODAY'S IDIOM

forty winks-a short nap During the night before the big test, he studied continuously,

catching forty winks now and then.


NEw WoRDS

condescend kon' di send'

candor kan' dar

mortify mor' b fi

jocose Jo kos'

malign rna lin'


THE JOHN J. ROE Mark Twain's boat was so slow no other steamer would condescend to race with it. With the utmost candor; Twain comments that his boat moved at such a pathetic* pace, they used to forget in what year it was they left port. Nothing would mortify Twain more than the fact that fenyboats, waiting to cross the river, would lose valuable trips because their passengers grew senile* and died waiting for his boat, the John J. Roe, to pass. Mark 1\vain wrote in a jocose manner about the races his steamer had with islands and rafts. With quiet humor he continued to malign the riverboat, but his book is replete* with love for this sort of life.


1. He had such disdain* for us, he would not ______ to speak before our group.

2. It is most common to ______ the wealthy for their avarice.*

3. It is difficult to be in the presence of so many doleful* people.

4. When we cannot speak with , we utilize euphemisms.*

5. Good sportsmanship requires that one not a defeated adversary.*


6. condescend

7. candor

8. mortify

9. jocose

10. malign

184

a. humorous, meny

b. abuse, slander

c. stoop, lower oneself

d. frankness, honesty

e. embarrass, humiliate

TODAY'S IDIOM

from pillar to post-from one place to another

The company was so large and spread out, he was sent from pUlar to post before he found the proper official



THE RIVERBOAT PILOT The riverboat pilot was a man considered omnipotent by all. Mark Twain once held that high position. He writes that he felt at the zenith of his life at that time. Starting out as a fledgling pilot's apprentice, he could not abjure• dreams of the time he would become, .. the only unfettered and entirely iildependent human being that lived in the earth." Kings, parliaments, and newspaper editors, Twain comments, are hampered and restricted. The river pilot issued peremptory commands as absolute monarch. The captain was powerless to interfere. Even though the pilot was much younger than the captain, and the steamer seemed to be in imminent• danger, the older man was helpless. The captain had to behave impeccably,• for any criticism of the pilot would establish a pernicious• precedent that would have undermined the pilot's limitless authority.


NEW WORDS

omnipotent om nip'~ bnt

zenith ze' nith

fledgling Oej' ling

peremptory pa remp' br e

precedent pres'~ d;:mt

1. Under the aegts• of an adroit* master, he reached the ______ of his career.

2. We would scoff* at anyone calling himself _____ _

3. There is no ______ for voting when there is no quorum. •

4. The poet lived a frugal• life.

5. No one had the temerity* to disobey the officer's ______ order.


6. omnipotent a. summit, top, prime

7. zenith b. little known, newly developed

8. fledgling c. absolute, compulsory, binding

9. peremptory d. custom, model

10. precedent e. almighty, unlimited in power or authority

TODAY'S IDIOM

in the lap of the gods--out of one's own hands

I handed in my application for the job, and now it is in the lap of the gods.


NEW WORDS

wheedle hwe' dl

rustic rus' tik

jubilant ju' lxl bnt

decorum dt kOr' ~m

charlatan shAr' 1~ tan


THE DOUBLE CROSS Many incidents that took place aboard his ship are re-told by 1\vain. One has to do with a wealthy cattle man who was approached by three gamblers. The cattle farmer had let it be known that he had a great deal of money, and the gamblers were trying to wheedle him into a card game. He protested that he lmew nothing about cards. His rustic appearance confirmed that fact. On the last night before landing the three gamblers got him drunk. When the first hand was dealt, a jubilant expression came over his face. The betting became furious. All of the proper deconun was put aside, and ten thousand dollars soon lay on the table. With the last wager one of the gamblers showed a hand of four kings. ills partner was to have dealt the sucker a hand of four queens. At this point the victim, the charlatan, removed the veneer* of respectability, and showed a hand of four aces! One of the three professional gamblers was a clandestine* confederate of the "rich cattle farmer." They had been planning this duplicity* for many weeks.


1. The child tried to ______ from her mother the place where the cookies had been cached.*

2. They could discern* that the faith healer was a _____ _

3. The life is supposed to be a tranquil* one.

4. Repress* your uncouth* manners and act with ______ at the party.

5. We were ______ when our indolent* cousin got a job.


6. wheedle a. coax, persuade, cajole*

7. rustle b. joyful, in high spirits

8. jubilant c. politeness, correct behavior

9. decorum d. pretender, fraud

1 0. charlatan e. countrified, unpolished

TODAY'S IDIOM

Achilles heel-weak spot He wanted to lead an ascetic* life, but his obsession with liquor was his Achilles heel.



Because you are learning these new words in context, they will stay with you. It is the natural method for seeing new words. Your ability to master words as they appear in normal situations should cany over to your learning many other words as you read.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. candor a. arouse or excite to activity 2. charlatan b. humiliate, embarrass 3. condescend c. little known, newly developed 4. decorum d. in high spirits, joyful 5. encumbrance e. peaceful, simple 6. extinct f. honesty, frankness 7. fledgling g. unpolished, counutfied 8. galvanize h. top, prime, summit 9. gaudy i. load, handicap, burden

10. idyllic j. merry, humorous 11. jocose k. correct behavior, politeness 12. jubilant I. unlimited in power or authority, almighty 13. malign m. no longer existing 14. mortify n. lower oneself, stoop 15. omnipotent o. persuade, coax, cajole* 16. peremptory p. binding, compulsory, absolute 17. precedent q. showy, flashy 18. rustic r. slander, abuse 19. wheedle s. fraud, pretender 20. zenith t. custom, model

IDIOMS 21. Achilles heel u. a short nap 22. forty winks v. weak spot 23. in the lap of the gods w. from one place to another 24. from pillar to post x. out of one's own hands


Check your answers on page 305. Go right to it. Learn 1. ---------the words you have missed. Make them as much a part of 2. ---------your vocabulary as the other words you knew correctly. 3. ---------

MEANINGS

187

WORDSEARCH 30

188


The Environmental Society

A great deal of controversy surrounds the efforts of environmentalists to

protect rare species of animals and birds from becoming <D . In

order to save these creatures from destruction stemming from a loss of

forests or water pollution, environmentalists try to ® large numbers

of people to pressure politicians into passing conservation legislation. Often,

however, these proposed ® laws are thought to be a burden placed

upon business, resulting in a loss of employment.

As the world enters the 21st century, the energy and food requirements of an

increasing population are at odds with those who would set aside land for

birds or animals. There is a great temptation to @ the motives of

environmental advocates. It will take people of good will and ® to

resolve the many difficulties that lie ahead.

Clues

CD 1st Day

@ 1st Day

® 3rd Day

@ 2nd Day

® 2nd Day



CHOOSE SAGELY* Today. the paramount* influence in the forming of public opinion is propaganda. It is not a heresy to our democratic beliefs to state that pressure groups play an important part in our lives. Propaganda makes one vulnerable* to the influences of others. The prudent person will choose between cogent* and specious* propaganda efforts. While propaganda has the ostensible purpose of informing the public, the most fervid propagandists use methods that must be examined by the thoughtful citizen. The ability to distinguish the spurious from the true facts requires more than a perfunctory* examination of prevalent• propaganda efforts.

Sample Sentences Use care. The words have many meanings.

NEW WORDS

heresy her'~ se

prudent pnld' nt

ostensible o sten' ~~I

fervid fer· vtd

sp~r~ous spyur e ~s

1. His appeal for action threw his adherents• into a frenzy•.

2. He accused the leader of the opposition of political . and the mob was exhorted* to burn his effigy•.

3. In the bedlam* that followed it was not to appear too apathetic*.

4. While the enemy was the opposition leader, the main purpose of this rash* behavior was the eradication* of all opponents.

5. In the conflagration* that followed, no one questioned whether the original charge had been _____ _

Definitions Study the fine differences. Be sure how to use them.

6. heresy

7. prudent

8. ostensible

9. fervid

10. spurious


a. intense, enthusiastic, passionate

b. false, counterfeit, specious•

c. unbelief, dissent, lack of faith

d. wise, cautious

e. outward, pretended, seeming

TODAY's IDIOM

cold shoulder-to disregard or ignore She was so piqued* at his uncouth* behavior,

she gave him the cold shoulder for over a week.

189

NEW WORDS

propagate prop';, gat

anomaly ;, nom';, le innocuous i nok' yii ;,s

surfeit ser' fit

milieu me lyu'


A FREE SOCIETY In a free society it is intrinsic* that individuals and groups have the inherent* right to propagate ideas and by to win converts. We do not look upon an idea different from ours as an anomaly that should be precluded*. Nor do we permit only innocuous or congenial* beliefs and forbid those that we believe are dubious* or spurious•. In a counby of competing pressures we are accosted* by a sw:feit of propaganda that tends to overwhelm us. Thus, we live In a milieu of ubiquitous* bombardment from countless, and often unrecognized, propagandists.


1. I must Inveigh* against your attempt to the belief that your political system will result In a panacea* for all problems.

2. It is Incongruous* to find an abstemious* person In a of avarice* and affluence*.

3. Siamese twins are considered a birth _____ _

4. There appears to be no such thing as an ______ heresy*.

5. When can we expect a respite* from the of 1V commercials?


6. propagate

7. anomaly

8. innocuous

9. surfeit

10. milieu

190

a. excess, superabundance

b. environment, setting

c. irregularity, abnormality

d. produce, multiply, spread

e. harmless, mild, innocent

TODAY'S IDIOM

without rhyme or reason-making no sense

Without rhyme or reason the pennant-winning baseball team decided to jettison* its manager.



WHO LISTENS? As the quantity of propaganda becomes greater, ideas are presented in more strident tones in order to overcome the increased competition. Those who are the targets of the propaganda find it more difficult to discern• between or analyze the new and expanded pressures. The concomitant situation that develops with the stepped-up propaganda is one in which the individual retreats into a state of lassitude. He has an aversion• to all attempts to influence him. So we can see the intrinsic* weakness inherent• in an increased level of propaganda. It has the deleterious result of reducing its E;.[ficacy upon the individuals or groups who were its objective.


1. There are many ______ dangers to obesity. •

2. Her voice added to the bedlam. •

NEW WORDS

strident strid' nt

concomitant kon kom'., bnt

lassitude las'., tud

deleterious del' ., tlr' e as

efficacy ef'., ka se

3. After the frenzy* that accompanied the burning of the effigy, • they were all acutely* aware of a feeling of _____ _

4. The gist* of the report was that smoking will have a ______ effect on health.

5. The ______ of new drugs cannot be determined without a plethora* of evidence.


6. strident a. power to produce an effect

7. concomitant b. bad, harmful

8. lassitude c. accompanying. attending

9. deleterious d. weariness, fatigue

1 0. efficacy e. shrill, harsh, rough

TODAY'S IDIOM

swan song-final or last (swans are said to sing before they die) The ex-champion ~aid that if he lost this fight it would be his swan song.


NEW WORDS

dissent di sent·

ferment f~r· ment

attenuated ~ten· yti a tid

arbiter ar· 00 t~r

incumbent in kum· ~nt


THE PEOPLE DECIDE The place of propaganda in a milieu* that is not free differs from its place in an open society. In a dictatorship there is no competing propaganda. Those who dissent from the official line may do so only in a clandestine* manner. Where there is no open ferment of ideas, the possibility of discerning* the true from the spurious* is attenuated. In a democracy, the inevitable* arbiter of what propaganda is to be permitted is the people. It is incumbent upon each citizen to choose between competing propagandas while remaining cognizant* of the value for a democracy in the existence of all points of view.


1. It is ______ on us to be zealous* in combatting the deleterious* effects of drugs.

2. With each generation it becomes the vogue* for the youth to be in a state of _____ _

3. The gist* of his ominous* suggestion was that we ______ from the majority opinion.

4. The strength of her appeal was ______ by the flamboyant* embellishments* for which many had a strong aversion.*

5. The Supreme Court is our ultimate* ______ of legality.

Definitions Always be cognizant* of the fact that words are used in the paragraphs and sentences with only one meaning. They often have many others. Look up the word incumbent for a good example.

6. dissent (v.) a. morally required

7. ferment b. weakened, thinned, decreased

8. attenuated c. differ, disagree, protest

9. arbiter d. uproar, agitation, turmoil

10. incumbent (adj.) e. judge

TODAY'S IDIOM

to get the sack-to be discharged or fired

Despite the fact that he was so obsequious* toward the boss, he got the sack because he was lethargic* about doing his job.



Once more it is time to review this week's words. Always keep in mind that the use of the word. its context. determines its meaning. Used as a noun, a word has a different meaning than when it is used as an adjective or a verb. First, master the words as they appear in the daily stories. Next. look up other meanings in your dictionary. Try writing sentences with the additional meanings.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. anomaly a. agitation, turmoil, uproar 2. arbiter b. attending, accompanying 3. attenuated c. abnormality, irregularity 4. concomitant d. cautious, wise 5. deleterious e. protest, differ, disagree 6. dissent f. rough, harsh, shrill 7. efficacy g. multiply, spread, produce 8. ferment h. lack of faith, dissent, unbelief 9. fervid i. morally required

10. heresy j. power to produce an effect 11. incumbent k. setting, environment 12. innocuous I. counterfeit, false, specious• 13. lassitude m. judge 14. milieu n. harmful, bad 15. ostensible o. superabundance, excess 16. propagate p. enthusiastic, passionate, intense 17. prudent q. decreased, weakened, thinned 18. spurious r. mild, innocent, harnUess 19. strident s. fatigue, weariness 20. surfeit t. seeming, pretended, outward

IDIOMS 21. cold shoulder u. to be discharged or fired 22. swan song v. making no sense 23. to get the sack w. final or last 24. without rhyme or reason x. to disregard or ignore

Check your answers on page 305. Get to work learning the words that gave you trouble.


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

MEANINGS

193

WORDSEARCH 31

194

• ••• Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Cross My Palm with Silver

People are fascinated by those who say they can predict the future. Fortune

tellers continue to attract gullible customers, and horoscopes are examined

daily to see if there is something CD to worry about in the day ahead.

One specialtst who seems to have found a way to predict something of our

future is the palm reader. It is her belief that a long .. life line" in the hand

means the customer will enjoy longevity.

While this appears to be a ® way to predict long life, a study done

in England measured "life lines" of 100 corpses and came up with_® ___ _

support for the claim: the length of life matched the length of line. The longer

the line, the older the person lived to be.

However, there are scientists who@ \vith believers in this apparent

connection. The .. life line" of older people is longer only because the hand

becomes more wrinkled with age. Length of line is a ® of length of

life, not the reverse, say scientists.

Clues

CD 3rd Day

@ 1st Day

® 1st Day

@ 4th Day

® 3rd Day


WEEK 32 •:• DAY 1 NEw WoRDS

ANYONE FOR COOGLE? As automation permeates• many new areas of life, its effect upon us becomes concomitantly* more projowul. Information processing, blogs, search engines of all types have found their ways into businesses, as well as our homes, schools, and libraries. Here they alleviate the burden of storing and providing us with an accumulation of information that is becoming more prodigious in this era of specialization and threatening to inundate• our society.

Youngsters in the primary grades now know how to manipulate their computers to extract information that would have taken their grandparents an eternity to produce. Machines whose celerity can scan thousands of words in nanoseconds help expedite the selection of pertinent• information for those schoolchildren.

Sample Sentences Insert your new words below.

profound prn found'

alleviate 0) le' ve at prodigious prn dij' O)S

expedite ek' spO) dit

celerity SO) ler' ~ te

1. 'vVe hoped that the arbiter• would ______ the solution to the fracas• that had been so elusive• for a long time.

2. He accepted the lucrative* position with _____ _

3. It is easy to construe• a superficial* remark tote a one.

4. If we cannot the harmful effects entirely, at least we can attenuate* them.

5. The enemy made a ______ effort to repress* the uprising.


6. profound a. cany out promptly

7. alleviate b. speed, rapidity

8. prodigious c. make easier, lighten

9. expedite d. deep, intense

10. celerity e. extraordinary, enormous

TODAY'S IDIOM

ivory tower-isolated from life; not in touch with life's problems Many artists have been said to be living in an ivory tower.


NEW WORDS

usurp yU zerp'

paltry pol' tre condone k~n don'

trivial triv' e ~1 bizarre 00 zAr'


EVERYONE IS TALKING Can anyone under the age of 20 remember a time when the dial telephone was the only method of voice communication over long distances? What a bizarre concept this must seem for today's youth. It has become an antiquated* cultural form of personal contact. The instrument for the modern communicator is the cell phone, which has usurped the wire-connected stationary model. With cell phone companies competing for customers, they eschew* offering a paltry number of minutes of talking time. The cell phone user can take advantage of a plethora* of special deals and carry on with significant or trivial conversations for seemingly endless time, and in almost any location. Often, these personal talks are held in the most public places, and those within hearing find it difficult to condone the inconvenience caused by the indiscriminate* use of this ubiquitous* instrument.

Don't look back at the "new words." Did you spot bizarre as a reintroduced word?

Sample Sentences (note the similarity of trivial and paltry)

1. Most of us scoff" at and belittle* ______ behavior.

2. They exacerbated* a difference of opinion into a prodigious* conflict.

3. It is during a period of ferment* that a dictator can power.

4. Do you expect me to that reprehensible* act with such celerity?*

5. The most ______ defects may have a deleterious* effect upon the efficacy* of that new process.


6. usurp a. petty, worthless

7. paltry b. excuse, pardon

8. condone c. seize, annex, grab

9. trivial d. of little importance, insignificant

10. bizarre e. fantastic, odd

TODAY'S IDIOM

to feather one's nest-to enrich oneself on the sly or at every opportunity

He played up to his senile* aunt in the hope of feathering his nest when she made out her will.



THE FUTURE IS HERE We have ardently* taken to the cell phone as a replacement for the venerable dial-up model. The most striking feature of the cell phone is the variety of uses to which it can be put. The dial-up phone is restricted to the menial task of mere conversation. For the garrulous* person who isn't restricted to one place, the mobile cell phone has a myriad* of uses. Should one be in an area that requires silence, there is an ability to utilize the succinct text messaging feature. Should one come upon an ambiguous event that one wishes to keep, one may photograph it or make it into a film for further study. Do not preclude* from the list of uses the access to your computer, music, and weather reports. One can hardly imagine an extraneous technical marvel that will not embellish* the cell phone in the future.

Sample Sentences Complete the sentences with the new words.

1. The prodigy* revered* the ______ master.

NEW WORDS

menial me' ne el

venerable ven· ar a hal

extraneous ek stni' ne e>S

ambiguous am big' yil ~s

succinct sak stngkt'

2. To those who could understand every nuance* of the cryptic* message, there was nothing about it.

3. He could say the most vitriolic* things in a ______ way.

4. Although she did not find it congenial,* we cajoled* our daughter into doing some of the tasks around the house.

5. The astute* voter is not susceptible* to the many ______ shibboleths* that saturate* a politician's speech.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

menial

venerable

extraneous

ambiguous

succinct

a. vague, undefined, not specific

b. humble, degrading

c. respected, worshiped

d. foreign, not belonging

e. brief, concise

TODAY'S IDIOM

the writing on the wall-an incident or event that shows what will happen in the future

In retrospect* he should have seen the writing on the wall when his girlfriend gave him only a cursory* greeting on his birthday.


NEW WORDS

archaic ar ka lk

emulate em' y;;, Icit

facetious (;;, se' sh~s

rabid rab' id

salubrious s;;, hl' bre ~


IT'S HAPPENING NOW The flood of new technology makes each modem maiVel appear archaic within the briefest time period. An assiduous• examination of today's communication methods will make clear how quickly a rabid purchaser of the newest product will want to emulate friends and buy the next one. The cell phone that can track down the location of a user, or the musicdownloading pod that has a potential* to record almost countless songs are soon to be replaced with more powerful and exciting products. It would not be facetious to claim that scientists will persevere• in devising ways for us to contact each other by voice, photographs, and print messages that give us access• to a more salubrious social network.


1. Some maintain that the ascetic* leads a ______ life.

2. With all candor, • I cannot wish for a return to the Urnes when a moribund* society provided an opulent• existence for some, but a loathesome"' life for the majority.

3. There is something about an egotist* who has the temerity* to begin a speech with, "In all humillty* . . . . "

4. It is not prudent• to malign* or castigate, • or be derogatory• in any way toward a political adherent. •

5. The wish to ______ a great person is laudable. •


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

198

archaic a. healthful, wholesome

emulate b. out of date

facetious c. rival, strive to equal

rabid d. comical, humorous, witty

salubrious e. fanatical, furious, mad

TODAY'S IDIOM

on the bandwagon-joining with the majority; going along with the trend Most advertisements showing many people using a product hope to

convince the viewer to get on the bandwagon and buy the item.



When you can analyze a sentence and determine from the context the meaning of a previously unknown word, you are functioning at the best level. These words will become a permanent part of your ever-growing vocabulary.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. alleviate a. out of date 2. ambiguous b. concise, brief 3. archaic c. intense, deep 4. bizarre d. annex, grab, seize 5. celerity e. wholesome, healthful 6. condone f. degrading, humble 7. emulate g. rapidity, speed 8. expedite h. fantastic, odd 9. extraneous i. humorous, comical, witty

1 0. facetious j. not belonging, foreign 11. menial k. enormous, extraordinary 12. paltry I. pardon, excuse 13. prodigious m. furious, mad, fanatical 14. profound n. undefined, vague, not specific 15. rabid o. carry out promptly 16. salubrious p. lighten, make easier 17. succinct q. respected, worshiped 18. trivial r. strive to equal, rival 19. usurp s. insignificant 20. venerable t. petty, worthless

IDIOMS 21. to feather one's nest u. joining with the majority 22. ivory tower v. an event that predicts the future 23. the writing on the wall w. out of touch with life 24. on the bandwagon x. to enrich oneself at every opportunity


1. -----------------Check your answers on page 305. Take that extra moment 2. -----------------now to review and study the words you.got wrong. 3. -----------------

MEANINGS

199

SELECTING ANTONYMS (From Weeks 29-32)

•:• Here are fifteen words taken from the last four weeks of study. Select and underline the correct antonym for each.

1. adversary (partner, foe}

2. dilettante (amateur, professional}

3. indolent (lazy, active}

4. inebriated (drunk, sober}

5. candor (falsehood, honesty}

6. gaudy (conservative, showy}

7. zenith (acme, nadir}

8. prodigious (huge, tiny}

9. condone (condemn, approve}

10. ambiguous (clear, confusing}

11. spurious (authentic, false}

12. innocuous (harmful, harmless}

13. deleterious (harmful, helpful}

14. succinct (concise, wordy}

15. rustic (rural, urbane}


WORDSEARCH 32


A Formidable Opponent

One of the most interesting tests of a computer's ability to "think" occurred

in 1992. The world's chess champion, a man of <D mental ability in

this sport, was challenged to compete against the most powerful computer

programmed to play chess. The question was, could a machine @ a

human's place as the best chess player in the world?

The match took place before hundreds of chess enthusiasts and was recorded

on film. While the computer lacked the champion's experience and emotional

capacity, it worked with such ® that it could search ahead for many

thousands of choices, well beyond what any human could envision. In fact,

the computer had already defeated many @ chess masters in

preparation for the contest.

The result of this test match was® as far as human self-esteem was

concerned. The champion won fairly easily. However, there is almost total

agreement that it is only a matter of time before we have an electronic chess

champion, one incapable of making a blunder. At that point it will be

checkmate for all of us.

Clues

CD 1st Day

@ 2nd Day

@ 1st Day

@ 3rd Day

® 4th Day


NEw WoRDS

complacent k~m phi' snt

somber som' ~r

debilitate di bil' ~tat

impetuous im pech' ii ~s

occult ~ kult'


AT A LOSS With the trivial* sum of five dollars in his pockets, Robert Lacy was feeling far from complacent about the future. In fact, it was his somber estimate that no matter how frugal* he was, his money would run out before the next day. He owed $3.50 in debts to friends; with the remainder he would have to eat enough to maintain his strength. Hunger would debilitate him to the point where he could not continue his feiVid* search for Evelyn. There was no hope of an impetuous stranger suddenly thrusting money upon him. There was still less solace* for him in the hope that, after all this time, he might develop the occult power that would give him a mental image of where Evelyn could be found.


1. The guard was so about the danger of escape that he gave the prisoner only a cursory* inspection.

2. We should be prudent• in our play or work during very hot weather, because the sun has the power to eneiVate• and those that scoff* at its effects.

3. He looked for a propitious• moment to exhibit his abilities.

4. The deleterious• results of his irate• outburst put the previously jocose* audience in a mood.

5. They were so moved by the idyllic* setting, they exchanged surreptitious, • ______ kisses.


6. complacent a. secret, mysterious, supernatural

7. somber b. impulsive

8. debilitate c. self-satisfied

9. impetuous d. weaken

10. occult (adj.) e. gloomy, sad

TODAY'S IDIOM

to hit the nail on the head-to state or guess something correctly

When Charlie said there were 3,627 beans in that jar, he hit the nail on the head.



MAKING PLANS Robert had arrived in New York a week earlier. He had begun by asking discreet questions of Evelyn's former landlord. There was no need to foment opposition at the very beginning. The landlord was recondite, • and all Robert had been able to glean from the cryptic* replies was that Evelyn had moved to a residence that catered to single women. Robert was in a hapless* situation; in this immense city his quarry could be hiding in one of dozens of such places. This would obviate• the possibility of his dashing from one place to another in an impetuous• manner. His search, while it had to be concluded with celerity, • could not be carried out in such slovenly fashion. He required a succinct• and meticulous• plan.


NEW WORDS

discreet dis kret'

foment foment

glean glen

quarry kwor'e

slovenly sluv' an le

1. In order to ______ trouble, they fabricated* a deplorable* and blatant* untruth.

2. She loathed* doing menial* tasks, and she did them in a manner.

3. Although it seemed inane, • they sought their in the midst of rustic* surroundings that were not its natural habitat•.

4. Despite the plethora• of offers to write her life story, the recently divorced movie queen kept a silence.

5. The reporters could not ______ anything from her servants.


6. discreet a. careful, cautious, prudent•

7. foment b. gather, collect

8. glean c. something hunted or pursued

9. quarry d. disorderly, carelessly

1 0. slovenly e. stir up, instigate

TODAY'S IDIOM

on the dot-exactly on time

Despite his having taken forty winks, • he got to his appointment on the dot.


NEw WoRDS

abjure ab jur·

reproach r1 proch·

penitent pen·~ t~nt

evanescent ev· ~ nes· nt

tantamount tan· b mount


A NEWSPAPER AD On the premise• that Evelyn knew she was being sought, Robert's first step was to abjure fruitless• searching and place an ad in the leading morning newspaper. He would importune• in a most careful way for her return. The ad read, "Evelyn. Come out of hiding. I do not reproach you for your actions. I expect no penitent confession. There is nothing ambiguous• about my offer. Please contact. Robert." He added a box number for a reply. When Robert went to the paper the next morning, he felt sanguine• about the chances of locating her. His evanescent concerns disappeared; there was a letter for him, and with tremulous• fingers he tore it open. It contained one sentence, and it was tantamount to a challenge; "If you really care about me, you will find me by midnight, Friday, Evelyn."


1. The inveterate• gambler became ______ and contrite• when faced with the results of his reprehensible• behavior.

2. The optimist knows that the vicissitudes• of life are ______ , and she always looks on the sanguine• side of things.

3. You should not condone• his sordid* behavior; rather, ______ him for his fractious• manner.

4. At the zenith* of his career, he was to a final arbiter* on matters of economic policy.

5. In vain, the entire family tried to importune• him to gambling.


6. abjure

7. reproach

8. penitent

9. evanescent

1 0. tantamount

a. equivalent, identical

b. rebuke, reprimand

c. renounce, abstain from

d. regretful, confessing guilt

e. fleeting, passing, momentary

TODAY'S IDIOM

to take under one's wing-to become responsible for As the new term began, the senior took the freshman wtder her wing.

204 ANSWERS ARE ON PACiE 306

NEW WORDS

AT THE BALLET Evelyn was an anomaly*: she had a propensity. for folk music and rock and roll dancing, and, at the same time, she was an avid* fan of classical ballet. At one time she had been a fledgling• ballet dancer. Robert headed for a theater where a venerable* ballet company was performing. He knew he had to be wary so that Evelyn mJght not see him first. It was Tuesday evening; two days gone with so little to show. Only three more remaining before the deadline set by Evelyn. He tried hard to allay the sudden fear that came over him that he might not locate her. Nothing would deter him from succe~dingl And so, although he was far from a connoisseur of the dance, he was standing among the throng* in the lobby, hoping it would be a propitious• evening for him.


propensity p~ pen·~ te

wary wer' e

allay ~ 18'

deter di ter·

connoisseur kon' a ser'

1. The ______ scoffs* at the dilettante,* who has only a veneer* of knowledge.

2. It is difficult to the concern of parents about how susceptible* their children are and how easily they succumb* to drugs.

3. Some girls have a for swarthy* men who wear gaudy* clothes.

4. Her father warned her to be of adding the encumbrance* of a steady boyfriend as this would attenuate* her chances of finishing college.

5. This did not her from getting into a depiorable* situation due to her rash* and perverse• actions.


6. propensity a. hinder, discourage

7. wary b. expert

8. allay r:. disposition, inclination, bent

9. deter d. calm, soothe

1 0. connoisseur e. watchful. shrewd

TODAY'S IDIOM

out of one'S depth-in a situation that is too difficult to handle

We thought he knew the ropes,* but we found him behind the eight ball* because he was out of his depth.



While each day's story has five new words, there are many others that are repeated from previous weeks. These words are placed within the stories so that you might practice your grasp of their meanings. Repetition will help guarantee that these words will be firmly fixed as part of your ever-expanding vocabulary.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. abjure a. stir up, instigate 2. allay b. disorderly, carelessly 3. complacent c. regretful. confessing guilt 4. connoisseur d. abstain from, renounce 5. debilitate e. weaken 6. deter f. self-satisfied 7. discreet g. discourage, hinder 8. evanescent h. bent, inclination, disposition 9. foment i. sad, gloomy

10. glean j. identical, equivalent 11. impetuous k. something hunted or pursued 12. occult I. watchful. shrewd 13. penitent m. supernatural, mysterious, secret 14. propensity n. impulsive 15. quarry o. rebuke, reprimand* 16. reproach p. momentary, passing, fleeting 17. slovenly q. prudent,* careful, cautious 18. somber r. collect, gather 19. tantamount s. expert 20. wary t. soothe, calm

IDIOMS 21. out of one's depth u. exactly on time 22. to hit the nail on the head v. in a situation that is too difficult to handle

w. to become responsible for 23. to take under one's wing 24. on the dot

Check your answers on page 306. The routine for checking and study should be well implanted by now. Some weeks you will have no words wrong. At other times, you may have several. Don't be discouraged by the differences from week to week

206

x. to state or guess something correctly


1. ------------------

2. ------------------

3. ------------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 33


Good Enough to Eat?

There seems to be universal agreement that exposure to the ultraviolet light

from the sun is deleterious to one's health. Also, except for tobacco industry

spokesmen, there is no dispute about the damage done to us from cigaret~e

smoke. What is shocking is the fact that almost everything we once regarded

as either beneficial, or harmless, soon gets challenged by scientists. We are

urged to <D foods that have high fat content. There go butter and

cheese. Even milk has now been added to the list of foods of which we must be_® ___ _

Whatever diet we are on, we cannot become ...::.® ____ about its nutritional

value. We are left, ultimately, with the @ thought that, sooner or

later, almost everything we eat or drink may be found to jeopardize our

health.

Given that there are many obstacles to maintaining good health, would it be

wise to embrace every new laboratory report in order to® ____ _

information? Let's not discard old, proven, sensible food habits. Also, there is

always the possibility that ice cream sundaes will be found to cure baldness.

and that chocolate chip cookies will eliminate our cholesterol problems.

Clues

CD 3rd Day

@ 4th Day

® 1st Day

@ 1st Day

® 2nd Day


NEW WORDS

site sit

vigil vij' ;,I

cumbersome kum' oor s;,m

interrogate tn ter· ;, gat

divulge d;, vulj'


ANOTHER PLAN Robert was far from tranquil* as he waited in the lobby for almost an hour after the performance had begun. Disgruntled,* he quit the site of his vigil He had to face the fact that he was making no tangible* progress. Tomorrow he would telephone several women's residences. It was a cumbersomeway of going about the hunt, but it was all that he could think of at the moment. He would interrogate the desk clerks, and perhaps he might uncover a pertinent• clue to Evelyn's whereabouts. If he could only get someone to divulge her hiding placer Perhaps tomorrow would cuhninate* in success.


1. With rancor* he faced the ______ job of transporting the voluminous* records to his new office.

2. Before they began to the criminal, they had to admonish* him that his testimony might be used to incarcerate• him.

3. The hunter maintained a discreet* and wary* as he waited for the propitious* moment to bag his quarry*.

4. Even under duress, • he was adamant* and would not the secret.

5. The newly married couple selected the for their new home with meticulous* care.


6. site a. unwieldy, burdensome

7. vigil b. question

8. cumbersome ('. wakeful watching

9. interrogate d. disclose, reveal

10. divulge e. location

TODAY'S IDIOM

to take a leaf out of someone's book-to imitate or follow the example The chip off the old block* took a leaf from his father's

book and never sowed wild oats*.



A HOPE DASHED The next day, Wednesday, saw Robert become more frustrated.* He would fluctuate between high hopes of finding Evelyn and unmitigated despair when he was almost ready to desist• in his search. The phone calls had elicited* almost nothing. Robert had rushed to one women's residence when the clerk described a girl who might just be Evelyn. The desk clerk phoned to her room on the pretext• that she had a special delivery letter. Robert waited in the conunodious lobby, replete• with large, antiquated pieces of furniture. He watched from a discreet* distance as she came down the stairs. One look at her wan* face, slovenly* dress, and disheveled hair was enough to inform Robert that he needed no further scrutiny.• This could not be his impeccable* Evelyn.


NEw WoRDS

fluctuate fluk' chu at

unmitigated un mit' e» ga· tid

commodious ke» mo' de e»S

antiquated an·~ kwi tid

disheveled de» shev' e»ld

1. He wasn't exactly an ______ liar; he merely embellished* the truth a little.

2. In his sumptuous• house he had a den in which he kept an array* of trophies as incontrovertible* evidence of his skill.

3. Is it banal* to say that good manners are in our milieu?*

4. The current trend* in the stock market is for stocks to ______ in a sporadic* fashion.

5. The nondescript, • indolent• beggar was in a ______ condition.


6. fluctuate a. large, spacious

7. unmitigated b. shift, alternate

8. commodious c. disorderly clothing or hair

9. antiquated d. unrelieved, as bad as can be

1 0. disheveled e. out-of-date, obsolete

TODAY'S IDIOM

brass tacks-the real problem or situation After some moments of congenial* levity, • they got down to brass tacks.


NEW WORDS

tenacious tina.' shas

fa~ade fa sad'

asinine as· n in

grimace g~ mas'

calumny kal' am ne


TO THE POLICE Thursday was his next-to-last day. He had been tenacious in following up every lead. Now he was behind the eight ball.* He could hardly galvanize* himself to do anything else. The jQ.9ade of hope he had worn for almost a week was crumbling; there was nothing left to be sanguine* about. In desperation he turned to the police and placed his problem within their jurisdiction.* They asked many questions, and they requested that he not expurgate* anything. Some of the questions seemed asinine When they inquired about his relationship to the missing girl, he replied, with a grimace. "Fiancee." When they suggested she might be hiding in that part of the city where the "punk" coterie* congregated, he was incredulous* and accused the police of calumny against her good name and reputation.


1. He held on to his antiquated* beliefs with a ______ obsession.*

2. The woman was noted for her vituperative* ______ against her innocuous,* although senile,* neighbor.

3. She could not abjure* a when she saw the disheveled figure.

4. How of the boy to fabricate* that bizarre* story!

5. His face wore the most doleful* _____ _


6. tenacious a. false accusation, slander

7. fa~ade b. silly, stupid

8. asinine c. front, superficial appearance

9. grimace d. tough, stubborn

10. calumny e. facial expression of disgust

TODAY'S IDIOM

hook, line, and sinker-completely, all the way The teacher fell for the practical joke hook, line, and sinker.



EVELYN DISCOVERED Failure was imminent,* and Robert was bereft* of hope. It was now Friday. Despite his abstemious* and parsimonious* way of living, his money had been reduced to a mere pittance. A penrerse* impulse brought him to the section where young people in strange clothing and with uncouth* manners made him recoil* in unmitigated* disgust. He had never been au courant with the "hippies" and "punks." He was always fastidious about proper dress and behavior. A moment later he saw her! Evelyn! She was sitting at a table in a coffee shop, surrounded by a coterie* of the most noisome individuals he had ever seen. Evelyn was not incongruous, • for she herself was unkempt So this was her new habitat! At that instant Robert knew as an incontrovertible* fact that he had lost her. With a grimace, • he turned and walked, a doleful* and melancholy figure, toward the bus depot and home.


NEw WoRDS

pittance pit'ns

au courant o' kO raNt'

fastidious fa stid' e as

noisome noi' sam

unkempt unkempt'

1. Styles are such transient* things that what is ______ today, is archaic* tomorrow.

2. The tip he had been offered was a mere ______ , and the taxi driver threw it on the ground in disdain. •

3. Children think mothers are asinine* to get upset about rooms.

4. It was inevitable* that they discover the hidden body by its aroma.

5. He was so about table manners that he lost his equanimity* when his son reached for the bread.


6. pittance a. untidy, neglected

7. au courant b. foul, unwholesome

8. fastidious c. small amount

9. noisome d. particular, choosy

10. unkempt e. up-to-date

TODAY'S IDIOM

lily-livered-cowardly

The lily-livered gangster got cold feet* and spilled the beans.*



As an "old hand" at vocabulary-building by the context method, you realize that this is the most natural and effective way. However, you also know that there is work and selfdiscipline too. You should cany these fine qualities right through life. The words you learn are valuable, the method is equally so.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. antiquated a. stubborn, tough 2. asinine b. slander, false accusation 3. au courant c. small amount 4. calumny d. neglected, untidy 5. commodious e. location 6. cumbersome f. reveal, disclose 7. disheveled g. alternate, shift 8. divulge h. disorderly clothing or hair 9. fa~ade i. superficial appearance, front

1 o. fastidious j. facial expression of disgust 11. fluctuate k. up-to-date 12. grimace I. unwholesome, foul 13. interrogate m. wakeful watching 14. noisome n. question 15. pittance o. as bad as can be, unrelieved 16. site p. out-of-date, obsolete 17. tenacious q. stupid, silly 18. unkempt r. choosy, particular 19. unmitigated s. burdensome. unwieldy 20. vigil t. spacious, large

IDIOMS 21. brass tacks u. cowardly 22. hook, line, and sinker v. completely, all the way 23. lily-livered w. to imitate or follow the example 24. to take a leaf out of someone's book x. the real problem or situation

The answers can be found on page 306. The method of study and learning requires quick review and re-use of difficult words. Start now!

212


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 34

• ••• Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Women in the Ring

What sport requires the timing of tennis, the energy of aerobics, the stamina

of cross-country running, and the physical contact of football? The answer is:

boxing. And now that seemingly male spectacle is attracting women. What was

once viewed as <D brutality has been transformed in gymnasiums

across the country into the latest form of workout, weight reduction, and

energy stimulator.

To suggest that women should not expose themselves to the sharp jabs and

powerful uppercuts of boxing because they are the "weaker" sex is

® . Properly trained by experts, in good shape from punching bags

and jumping rope, women can be as ® in the ring as men.

With women jockeys, race car drivers, hockey goalies, and basketball players,

it would require a man with® prejudice, if not sheer ignorance, to

argue that boxing is solely a man's sport. Anyone who is ® with the

status of liberated women need not be surprised by their entry into the ring.

Clues

Q) 2nd Day

® 3rd Day

® 3rd Day

@ 2nd Day

® 4th Day


NEW WORDS

parable par'~ b~l

whimsical hwim' za kdl

lampoon lam pun'

countenance koun' ~ n~ns

sanctimonious sangk' t~ mo' ne ClS


A MODERN AESOP The telling of a story in simple terms that has an inherently* important message is a venerable* art form. The parable may be found teaching a moral lesson in the Bible. Aesop is an incontrovertible* master of the fable. This story form is far from antiquated* as shown by the whimsical approach to life taken by the modern Aesop, James Thurber. His stories lampoon the strange behavior of his fellow men. Thurber seems unable to countenance the ideas that permeate• our society regarding the rules by which we should live. Least of all is he able to accept the sanctimonious notion that some people promulgate• that good always wins out against evil. Thurber's stories often take an exactly opposite didactic* point of view.

Sample Sentences Note that some words do not have a one word definition. Frequently, several words, or an entire sentence, is required.

1. Jonathan Swift was never reticent• to ______ the egotist• in order to bring him down with alacrity.*

2. What one person finds . the other may find asinine.*

3. The expression, "Sour grapes,*" is the gist* of a famous about a fox who couldn't get what he wanted.

4. We should eschew* our facade;* away with pretext!*

5. If we want to live in a salubrious* milieu,* we can not the noisome* fumes that are deleterious* to health.

Definitions Note the distinction between countenance as a noun and as a verb.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

214

parable a. humorous, witty

whimsical b. hypocritically religious

lampoon (v.) c. tolerate,* approve

countenance (v.) d. a moralistic story

sanctimonious e. ridicule

TODAY'S IDIOM

to pull up stakes-to quit a place

He could no longer rule the roost* or get the lion's share,* so he puUed up stakes and moved on.



MODERNIZING A PARABLE* Thurber punctures in an incisive* way the platitudes* that come from stories handed down through the generations. These old saws are accepted by everyone. One such tale is about a tortoise who had read in an ancient book that a tortoise had beaten a hare in a race. The sage* old tortoise construed* this story to mean that he could outrun a hare. With equanimity he hunted for a hare and soon found one. "Do you have the effrontery to challenge me?" asked the incredulous* hare. "You are a nonentity," he scoffed* at the tortoise. A course of fifty feet was set out. The other animals gathered around the site*. At the sound of the gun they were off. When the hare crossed the finish line, the flabbergasted tortoise had gone approximately eight and three-quarter inches. The moral Thurber draws from this debacle for the tortoise: A new broom may sweep clean, but never trust an old saw.

Which of the five "new words" have you seen before? Answer with equanimity.


NEW WORDS

equanimity e ku~ nim' ~ te

effrontery ~ frun' br e

nonentity non en' b te

flabbergasted flab· ~r gast :Ki

debacle da bc'l' kal

1. He was a precocious* youngster, but he soon reached the nadir* of his career, lost all of his prestige*, and became a _____ _

2. Do.you have th~ to take that supercilious* and facetious* attitude toward something as sinister* as this?

3. These turbulent• times require a leader who does not go into a capricious* pique, • but rather one who faces acrimonious* criticism with _____ _

4. When the judge exonerated* the charlatan, • we were all _____ _

5. The fortuitous* appearance of a relief column permitted an adroit* escape from the imminent* _____ _


6. equanimity a. calmness, self-control

7. effrontery b. astounded

8. nonentity c. boldness

9. flabbergasted d. ruin, collapse

10. debacle e. one of no importance

TODAY'S IDIOM

to raise Cain-to cause trouble, make a fuss

When he found he was left holding the bag,* he decided to raise Cain.


NEW WORDS

vivacious viva' sh~s

gaunt gOnt

mien men

hirsute her' st1t

refute r1 fyilt'


THINGS HAVE CHANGED

Thurber modernizes an old story that everyone has read or heard. It has to do with a nefarious* wolf who kept a vigil* in an ominous* forest until a little girl came along canytng a basket of food for her grandmother. With alacrity, • this vivacious youngster told the woJf the address to which she was going. Hungry and gaunt the wolf rushed to the house. When the girl arrived and entered, she saw someone in bed wearing a nightcap and a nightgown. While the figure was dressed like her grandmother, the little girl sunnised* with only a perfimctory* glance that it didn't have the old lady's mien. She approached and became cognizant* of the hirsute face of the wolf. She drew a revolver from her purse and shot the interloper* dead. Thurber anives at a moral for this story that anyone would find difficult to refute: It is not so easy to fool little girls nowadays as it used to be.


1. She had a ofliumility,• but it was only a fa~ade.•

2. He did not waste th-ne trying to an irrelevant• and tortuous• argument.

3. You may have discerned* that it is no longer the latest vogue* among boys to permit their faces to become _____ _

4. They were struck by the anomaly* of one twin who was phlegmatic* while the other was _____ _

5. Women strive for the slender and au courant* ______ look.

Definitions Match the new words with their definition.

6. vivacious a. thin, haggard

7. gaunt b. lively. gay

8. mien c. hairy

9. hirsute d. appearance, bearing

10. refute e. prove wrong or false

TODAY'S IDIOM

to leave no stone unturned-to try one's best, to make every effort

Since you're from Missouri, • I'll leave no stone untumed to convince you.



ANOTHER SURPRISE Thurber's stories are written in a jocose• manner, but they contain enough serious matter to make one pensive. He tells of some builders who left a pane of glass standing upright in a field near a house they were constructing. A goldfinch flew across the field, struck the glass and was knocked inert. • He rushed back and divulged* to his friends that the air had crystallized. The other birds derided* him, said he had become irrational, • and gave a number of reasons for the accident. The only bird who believed the goldfinch was the swallow. The goldfinch challenged the large birds to follow the same path he had flown. This challenge served to whet their interest, and they agreed with gusto. • Only the swallow abjw'ed. • The large birds flew together and struck the glass; they were knocked into a stupor. This r..aused the astute• swallow to wince with pain. Thurber drew a moral that is the antithesis* of the cliche we all accept: He·who hesitates is sometimes saved.


pensive pen' slv

whet hwet

stupor stQ' p~r

wince wins

cliche kle sha'

1. He was in such a as a result of the accident that thJs precluded* his hearing my condolence. •

2. If you juxtapose• one with another, you often get completely opposite lessons about life.

3. The hostile* rebuke* made the usually phlegmatic* boy _____ _

4. You cannot his desire for the theater with dubious• histrionics.•

5. The fervid* marriage proposal made the shy girl _____ _


6. pensive a. thoughtful, reflective

7. whet b. stimulate, stir up

8. stupor c. a commonplace phrase

9. wince d. draw back, flinch

10. cUche e. daze, insensible condition

TODAY'S IDIOM

tongue in one's cheek-not to be sincere

John's father surely had his tongue in h1s cheek when he told his son to go sow wild oats• and to kick over the traces• at his kindergarten party.



To strengthen your word power, keep adding words from all the sources you use during the day. The words learned while reading this book give you a firm basis. School texts, newspapers, magazines, etc., should all give you the opportunity to corroborate* the fact that your vocabulary is growing, and they should also be the source for new words.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. cliche a. astounded 2. countenance b. one of no importance 3. debacle c. witty, humorous 4. effrontery d. ridicule 5. equanimity e. hairy 6. flabbergasted f. prove wrong, disprove 7. gaunt g. flinch, draw back 8. hirsute h. self-control 9. lampoon i. collapse, ruin

10. mien j. hypocritically religious 11. nonentity k. a moralistic story 12. parable I. gay, lively 13. pensive m. bearing, appearance 14. refute n. stir up, stimulate 15. sanctimonious o. boldness 16. stupor p. approve, tolerate* 17. vivacious q. haggard, thin 18. whet r. reflective, thoughtful 19. whimsical s. a commonplace phrase 20. wince t. insensible condition, daze

IDIOMS 21. tongue in one's cheek u. make a fuss, cause trouble 22. to leave no stone unturned v. to make every effort, to try one's best 23. to pull up stakes 24. to raise Cain

Check your answers on page 306. Look back at the story to check the use of each word in its context. This will help fix it in your mind.

218

w. not to be sincere x. to quit a place


1. ------------------

2. ------------------

3. ------------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 35

• •.• Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the follo\\ing story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Beam Me Up, Scotty

In 1966 a television program appeared that quickly established itself as the

most successful science fiction series, moved on to become a series of popular

fllms, and continues LTl reruns to be seen somewhere in this country every

night of the year. This original series, Star Trek, became so popular that there

are huge fan clubs across the country and the stars of the original series are mobbed when t11ey make personal appearances.

What makes this form of science fiction so popular? Some may say that each

st.o:ry of the future is a <D showing us our own world through a

presentation of other worlds. There are those who would ® this

analysts and argue that it is the odd characters, the ® aliens, who

attract us. We watch with @ as worlds battle, knowing it will turn out well in the end.

After many years and many TV episodes and movies, "Star Trek" and its successors continue to ® our appetite and bring excitement to our

screens. As long as space remains an almost total mystery, the unexplained will capture our imaginations.

Clues

Q) 1st Day

® 3rd Day

@ 3rd Day

@ 2nd Day

® 4th Day


NEw WoRDs

genre zhan' rn

candid kan' did

unsavory un sa.' v~r e

degrade di grad'

venial ve' ne ~1


A LADY NOVELIST The nineteenth century saw the woman novelist attain the same prestige• as men. England was prolific* in producing women writers. One of the foremost in this genre was Charlotte Bronte. In Jane Eyre she presented a candid portrait of a woman caught up in a clandestine* affair with a married man. Miss Bronte's readers were engrossed* in this story. She took this unsavory subject and presented it in a way that did not degrade the relationship. She showed that true passion can be healthy. Miss Bronte did not disparage* Jane's feelings or besmirch* her character. The author was generous in her verdict. The affair was considered merely a venial sin because Jane was never false in her feelings or her actions.


1. Hany held the fallacious* belief that the menial* job would him in the eyes of his friends.

2. Betty's childish fabrications• were judged sins, although they mortified* her mother.

3. Modern abstract painting is a highly lucrative* _____ _

4. It is reprehensible,* but it doesn't require much gossip to give a person a(n) ______ reputation.

5. In my ______ opinion he is a sanctimonious• fool.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

220

genre a. make contemptible, lower

candid b. disagreeable, offensive, morally bad

unsavory c. a certain form or style in painting or literature

degrade d. pardonable, forgivable

venial e. frank, open, honest

TooAv's IDIOM

keep a stiff upper lip-keep up courage, stand up to trouble When he heard through the grapevine* that the fat was in the frre, • he knew he had to keep a st![f upper lip so as not to spill the beans.*



VICTOR HUGO The epitome of French romantic Wiiters in the nineteenth century was Victor Hugo. With the utmost dexterity he wrote poetry. novels. and drama. His highly popular novels. Notre Dame de Paris and Les Miserables. are replete• with melodramatic . situations and grotesque characters. He had a profound* sense of social justice and a compassion for the poor. hapless. • and downtrodden. He could not work under the aegis* of Napoleon II and fled into exile. When the repugnant rule came to an end. the expatriate• returned from exile. He was received with adulation• and acclaim as the idol of the Third Republic.


NEW WORDS

epitome 1 pit'~ me

dexterity dek ster' ~ te

grotesque gro tesk'

compassion !Qm pash' ~n

repugnant rf pug' n~nt

1. He was made up in the most ______ way for his role as a man from outer space.

2. We all felt deep for the innocent progeny.• who were bereft* of their parents who had succumbed* during the conflagration. •

3. The Taj Mahal in India is said to be the of grace as an edifice. •

4. The sight of the corpse was to the squeamish* onlookers.

5. With he thwarted* the pugnacious• and belligerent• adversary.•


&.

7.

8.

9.

10.

epitome a. strange. bizarre. • fantastic

dexterity b. person or thing that embodies or represents the best

grotesque c. distasteful. repulsive

compassion d. sympathetic feeling. kindness

repugnant e. mental or physical skill

ToDAY's IDIOM

to throw the book at someone-to give the maximum punishment

The judge got his back up• and threw the book at the criminal.


NEW WORDS

acme ak·me

copious ko· pe ~s

vehemently ve· ~ ment le depict dt ptkr

naive nAev·


AN ENGLISH REALIST The movement toward realism in the English novel of the nineteenth century reached its acme with the works of Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray. Charles Dickens was a prolific* writer. Among his copious works are Oliuer TI.vist, a candid* exposure of the repugnant• poor laws; Nicholas Nickleby, in which the life of boys in a boarding school is vehemently attacked; Hard Times, in which the author wanted to depict the infamous• life in a factory during ;m early period of the industrial revolution; The Pickwick Papers, about a naive gentleman who has numerous misadventures. The novels, aimed at exposing the sordid* and pernicious* elements of English life, were sald to have helped galvanize* people into action leading to improvement in these conditions.


• 1. At the of his power, the dictator was obsessed* with the belief tl1at

those who dissented* were trying to usurp* his position.

2. As a perspicacious* newspaper reporter, he felt it incumbent* upon him to ______ the abortive* coup as a reprehensible* act.

3. The urbane* gentleman was flabbergasted* by the fervid* interest in wrestling shown by the young girl. ·

4. She lost her decorum* and wept tears at the poignant* story.

5. He objected to a vote taking place in the absence of a quorum.*


6. acme

7. copious

8. vehemently

9. depict

10. naive

222

a. unworldly, unsophisticated

b. violently, eagerly, passionately

c. peak, pinnacle,* zenith*

d. ample, abundant, plentiful

-- e. describe clearly, picture, portray

TODAY'S IDIOM

terra firma-solid, firm land

The rough ocean crossing took the wind out of his sails*, and he was happy to be on terra firma again.


A SCHEMING HEROINE William Makepeace Thackeray was known for his moralistic study of upper and middle class English life. His best known work, Vwtity Fair, has as its central character Becky Sharp. She is a perfidious woman who has an insatiable* desire to get ahead in the world. She covets the wealth of one ma.a1, but when maniage is not feasible* she succeeds in a plan to ingratiate herself into the heart of her employer's son. Their maniage is not a salubrious* one and Becky, who lives ostentatiously,* forms a surreptitious* liaison with another man. The affair culminates* in a debacle.* She is exposed, her husband leaves her, and she must live in penwy in Europe. This is the ignominious end for a clever, but misguided woman.


NEW WORDS

perfidious J»r ftd- e ~s

covet kuv·tt

ingratiate in gra: she at

penury pen· yer e

ignominious tg• ~ min· e ~s

1. Under the aegis* of a zealous* campaign manager, the candidate was able to ______ herself into the hearts of the public.

2. A favorite parable* has to do with teaching the lesson that one should not ______ that which belongs to someone else.

3. His fortune fluctuated* between ______ and wealth.

4. They made an effigy of their enemy.

5. There was bedlam* as the favored team went down to ______ defeat at the hands of the underdog.


6. perfidious

7. covet

8. ingratiate

9. penury

10. ignominious

a. treacherous. false

b. want, envy, wish

c. humiliating, disgraceful

d. poverty

e. win confidence, charm

TODAY'S IDIOM

in seventh heaven-the highest happiness or delight The oldest child was in seventh heaven when her mother let her rule the roost* for a day.



Whether you read a classic novel or a modern one, the one thing they have in common is their use of a rather extensive vocabulary. Don't be handicapped in your reading-increase your vocabulary by constant study and review.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. acme a. open, honest, frank 2. candid b. kindness, sympathetic feeling 3. compassion c. zenith,* pinnacle,* peak 4. copious d. wish, envy, want 5. covet e. false, treacherous 6. degrade f. unsophisticated, unworldly 7. depict g. fantastic, strange, bizarre* 8. dexterity h. lower, make contemptible 9. epitome i. a certain form or style in painting or literature

10. genre j. repulsive, distasteful 11. grotesque k. plentiful, abundant. ample 12. ignominious I. poverty 13. ingratiate m. portray, picture, describe clearly 14. naive n. person or thing that represents the best 15. penury o. morally bad, disagreeable, offensive 16. perfidious p. physical or mental skill 17. repugnant q. passionately, violently. eagerly 18. unsavory r. charm, win confidence 19. vehemently s. forgivable, pardonable 20. venial t. disgraceful, humiliating

IDIOMS 21. to throw the book at someone u. keep up courage, stand up to trouble 22. in seventh heaven 2 3. terra firma 24. keep a stiff upper lip

v. to give maximum punishment w. solid, firm land x. the highest happiness or delight


Check your answers on page 307. Review incorrect words. 1.

2.

3.

224

SENSIBLE SENTENCES? (From Weeks 33-36)


1. We tried to (deter, divulge) him but he was determined to submit to open heart surgery.

2. The reporter lost his job when he labeled the senator's remarks as (unmitigated. asinine).

3. Freddie had the (effrontery, propensity) to ask Robin for a date after having criticized her appearance.

4. Ordinarily. Jonathan was especially neat. but he looked quite (disheveled. fastidious) at the end of our camping trip.

5. Mter hearing the bad news. the students left the auditorium with (venial. somber) faces.

6. My Uncle Robert. who is really conservative about his investments. made money on Wall Street by not being (impetuous, wary).

7. I knew I could confide in Caryl-Sue because she has a reputation for being (discreet, sanctimonious).

8. The traitor's (perfulious, pensive) action resulted in the loss of many lives.

9. Our water commissioner was (complacent, flabbergasted) to learn that his own lawn sprinkler had been turned on during the water emergency.

1 0. Sophie was accepted by our wide circle of friends because of her (vivacious. tenacious) personality.


WORDSEARCH 36

226

•!• Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you leatned this week.

1492-1992

We are all aware that 1992 was the year during which there were ...;;;CD ___ _

reminders that it marked the SOOth anniversary of Columbus' arrival in this

part of the hemisphere. Along with the celebrations and historical

reenactmenis, there was controversy regarding the lives of those who had

been here for many centuries before that fateful event.

Historical research shows that it would be extremely _® ____ to believe

that "civilization" began on this continent with Columbus' arrival. The Native

American tribes had formed nations and had come together in an

organization known as the Five Nations. They had regulations for governance

that were the ® of self-rule and that became the models on which

our Constitution was partly based.

It was to remove the ® portrayal of the Native American as savage

and wild Lltat historians adopted 1992 as the year to ® them in

their true light as members of civil1zations worthy of study and respect.

Clues

CD 3rd Day

® 3rd Day

® 2nd Day

@ 4th Day

® 3rd Day


WEEK J 7 •!• DAY 1

A MAN OF NATURE Heruy Thoreau attempted to corifront the problem and solve the enigma• of how one might earn a living and yet not become an ignominious* slave to the task. He viewed the industrial revolution with antipathy. Man in a servile role to extraneous• possessions was a main target of his writings. He believed that one could attain genuine wealth not by accumulating objects or money, but through enjoyment and perusal* of nature. By his own volition he gave up friends and comforts for a two year sojourn by himself at Walden Pond. What others might judge as penury, • was seen by Thoreau as the epitome• of wealth.


NEW WORDS

confront k:m frunt·

antipathy an tip'~ the

servile s8"' wl

volition vo ltsh' ~n

sojourn si>' Jern

1. He found his position a degrading* one and could not accept it with equanimity.•

2. The expatriate"' decided to make his in France a permanent one in order to give up his nomadic* way of life.

3. Why do we refuse to the unsavory* problems of our times In a candid* and incisive• way?

4. He was a tenacious* competitor, and at his own ______ he placed his title in jeopardy* on many occasions.

5. Her towards men was based on rather nebulous• events that she construed"' to prove that they were all perfidious. •


6. confront

7. antipathy

8. servile

9. volition

1 0. sojourn (n.)

a. temporary stay

b. willpower, choice

c. dislike, distaste, hate

d. come face to face with

e. slavish, submissive

TODAY'S IDIOM

to tighten one~ belt-to get set for bad times or poverty

He knew he would have to draw 1n hls horns- and tighten his belt or he would wind up on skid row*.


NEW WORDS

austere 6 stir'

felicitous r~ lis'~ tas

halcyon hal' se ~n

tenable ten' a hal

superfluous su per' flu as

WEEK 3 7 •!• DAY 2

THE GOOD LIFE Thoreau's book about the austere but happy life at Walden Pond propagated* his fame around the world. He built a small hut and began living an ascetic* existence. He found it to be a felicitous experience. In this idyllic* setting he was able to spend his time reading, studying nature, writing, and thinking. Far from being indolent,* he kept busy in many ways. At the end of the experiment he recalled the halcyon days with pleasure. He believed he had learned the secret of the truly happy life. The only tenable way of life is one in harmony with nature; material possessions are superfluous.


1. When he found his sinecure* was no longer ______ , he felt it a propitious* time to resign.

2. Far from being ostentatious,* she was considered the acme* of fashion because of her manner of dress.

3. Because he was an itinerant* worker, he had to disdain* carrying _____ _ equipment.

4. On that occasion the amount of money he spent was irrelevant.*

5. During the turbulent* days of the war, they wished for the days of earlier times.


6. austere

7. felicitous

8. halcyon

9. tenable

10. superfluous

228

a. supportable, defendable

b. simple, unadorned, hard

c. peaceful. calm

d. happy

e. excessive, surplus

TooAv's IDIOM

off the beaten track-not usual, out of the ordinary

Because his ideas were always off the beaten track, he lived under a sword of Damocles* on his job.


WEEK 3 7 •!• DAY J

THE MIND'S SECRETS The study of the human mind and behavior has had many prominent practitioners, but no one is more revered* than Sigmund Freud. An Austrian physician, he is said to be the father of psychoanalysis. He taught that man has a subconscious mind in which he keeps repugnant• memories that come to the surface surreptitiously* and motivate behavior. Man often tries to rationalize hi~ actions, when, in reality. they are really the result of suppressed memories coming to the surface. Freud's approach to the disturbed person was to attempt therapy by examining the dreams that make cognizant• what the cause of the illness might be. Only with the airing of deleterious, buried emotions can the person move from the nascent stage to that of full health. Freud was considered an iconoclast in the field of psychology when his ideas first appeared at the beginning of the twentieth centucy.


NEW WORDS

motivate mo' b vat

rationalize rash' ~ n~ liz

therapy ther' ~ pe

nascent nas' nt

iconoclast i kon' _, klast

1. The was in favor of jettisoning* one of the traditions that had become an intrinsic* part of his life.

2. In order to complete the ______ , the doctor said a trip to a warm, dty climate was mandatocy.•

3. Complacent• people are difficult to ______ to altruistic* actions.

4. It is pathetic* the way some citizens their apathy* during election years.

5. His beard was in its ______ state; it would soon be a hirsute* masterpiece.


6. motivate

7. rationalize

8. therapy

9. nascent

10. iconoclast

a. beginning to exist or develop

b. use or give a reason other than the real one

c. inspire, stimulate, provoke

d. image-breaker, attacker of beliefs

e. healing or curing process

TODAY'S IDIOM

a square peg in a round hole-an able man in the wrong job It was a bitter pill to swallow* when they had to fire him

because he was a square peg in a round hole.


NEW WORDS

erudite er· u dit

phobia ro· be;

germane j~r man'

vertigo ver' b go

conducive k~n dO' siv

AMATEUR PSYCHOLOGISTS The ideas of Freudian psychology have become part of our everyday life. Our language is replete* with cliches* that have their origin in Freud's writings. There is a surfeit* of amateur psychologists who, with celerity,* analyze an individual's problems from the slightest evidence. Despite their dubious* education and training in this field, they discuss symptoms and cures on a most erudite fashion. Should a person express a fear of height, this phobia. is examined; events from childhood are considered germane to the problem. Is it possjble he or she was dropped as an infant? Perhaps something in a dream is pertinent* to explain the feelings of vertigo that accompany height. For some reason, non~ trained people find the Freudian approach to the workings of the human mind most conducive to their practicing as amateur psychologists.


1. She could not countenance* the sight of a lethal* weapon; it was tantamount• to a with her.

2. The ______ man was more than merely bilingual;"' he spoke five languages.

3. I would never have the temerity* to walk across t...he steel girders high up on a new building: an onset of would surely follow.

4. The bedlam* in the study hall was not to good work habits.

5. Epithets* are not ______ when motivating* a child to a task.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

230

erudite a. very scholarly

phobia b. dizziness

germane c. persistent fear, strong dislike

vertigo d. leading, helpful

conducive e. appropriate, in close relationship to

TODAY'S IDIOM

to upset the apple cart-to overturn or disturb a plan or intention It was a bitter pill to swallow* when they upset the

apple cart and elected a dark horse.*


WEEK J 7 •!• DAY 5 REVIEW

The writings of Thoreau and Freud are repJet.e• with ideas that rt;quire deep thought. In order to tackle their ideas, one must understand their vocabulary. Therefore, word mastery is the key to unlocking ideas of some of our greatest thinkers.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. antipathy a. choice, \\1llpower 2. austere b. supportable, defendable 3. conducive c. provoke, stimulate, inspire 4. confront d. leading, helpful 5. erudite e. unadorned, simple, hard G. felicitous f. hate, distaste, dislike 7. germane g. attacker of beUefs, image-breaker 8. halcyon h. tn close relationship to, appropriate 9. iconoclast i. calm, peaceful

1 0. motivate j. come face to face with 11. nascent k. curing or. healing process 12. phobia I. very scholarly 13. rationalize m. happy 14. servile n. submissive, slavish 15. sojourn o. beginning to develop or exist 1 G. superfluous p. dizziness 17. tenable q. surplus, excessive 18. therapy r. temporary stay 19. vertigo s. use or give a reason other than the real one 20. volition t. strong dislike, persistent fear

IDIOMS 21. to upset the apple cart u. not usual, out of the ordinary 22. to tighten one's belt v. an able man in the wrong job 23. off the beaten track w. to get set for bad times or poverty 24. a square peg in a round hole x. to overturn or disturb a plan or intention

Check your answers on page 307.


1. ----------------

2. ----------------

3. ----------------

MEANINGS

231

WORDSEARCH 37

232


Make My Ostrich Burger Well Done

Just about 100 years ago, there arose an industry in the state of Arizona that

seems very odd to us today. We know of cattle ranches and sheep ranches,

but would you believe ... ostrich ranches? This CD business became

popular as women found ostrich feathers a ® addition to their

wardrobes.

Ostriches are easy to raise. They eat and drink less than cattle, and their eggs

are large enough to feed ten people! During the @ days of ostrich

ranching, feathers were sold for as much as $300 a pound, so it is easy to

see why that business was so attractive.

However, women's fashions changed after World War I, and the market for

ostrich plumes fell. Growers had to @ a shrinking market. The price

tumbled to about $10 for a bird. As ostrich feathers became® in

the fashion world, ostrich ranching came to an end.

Interestingly enough. ostrich ranchers may be coming back into vogue because

nutritionists tell us that ostrich meat is low in cholesterol. We may not go wild

over the feathers, but pass the lean meat, please. Hold the mayo, too.

Clues

CD 3rd Day

@ 2nd Day

® 2nd Day

@) 1st Day

® 2nd Day



THE ENIGMA* OF FASHION Of all the pressures young people face, the most pernicious• is that of fashion. By this is meant the current vogue• in dress. The teenagers, who are so glib when they speak of "individuality," are turned into a homogeneous mass by the latest craze in fashion. How can youngsters who vehemently* resist advice from the older generation become so malleable in the hands of those who "make" fashion? Perhaps the sudden shifts in fashion occur fortuitously*. Or is there some group who, through legerdemain, switches styles and customs on us right before our eyes? Today's teenagers seem to be quite gullible* when it comes to embracing the latest trend in fashions. But then, they have their elders as sage• examples to follow.


NEW WORDS

glib glib

homogenous ho ~Je'ne~s

malleable mal' e ~~»I

legerdemain lej ~r d~ man'

trend trend

1. The charlatan• was able to wheedle* money out of the naive• audience with a ______ talk on the medicine that would expunge• pain. ·

2. They could not follow the ______ of his ideas, but his verbal dexterity* galvanized* the gullible* listeners.

3. They were engrossed* as an ill man was "cured" before their eyes: some of the more urbane• said it was _____ _

4. He ingratiated* himself into their confidence, and the ______ crowd was shaped into a subjugated* mass.

5. While they started out as individuals, they became a ______ group whom he could motivate as he willed.


6. glib

7. homogeneous

8. malleable

9. legerdemain

10. trend

a. capable of being shaped or formed

b. sleight of hand, deceptive adroitness•

c. smooth of speech

d. same or uniform

e. general direction

TODAY'S IDIOM

by hook or by crook-any way at all, at any cost He had bought the white elephant• without rhyme

or reason•: now he had to get rid of it by hook or by crook.


NEw WoRDS

stagnant stag' nant

fatal ra· u passe pa sa' procrastinate pro kras' ta nat

facet fas' it


THE ECONOMICS OF FASHION In dress, the fashion appears to be "set" by a few foreign designers and a handful of affluent* indMduals who purchase these designs. The fashion industry is cognizant* of the fact that fashions must change rapidly and often or their economy would become stagnant For this industry it would prove fatal if it were not vigilant* and prepared well in advance for a new fashion trend. • As the old fashion becomes passe and a new fashion seems to be in the making, the garment manufacturers cannot afford to procrastinate. They rush large sums of money into production for a mass market. Having invested heavily, the manufacturers do everything possible to tnfluence and motivate* the purchasers. Through every facet of publicity and advertising the industry exploits* the natural desire for people to be au courant* with the latest fashions.

Sample Sentences Insert the new words in the~e sentences.

1. To the consternation* of the distraught* parents they learned their son was accused of using the lethal* weapon on that occasion.

2. We wish for halcyon* days when the warlike solutions will have become

3. Edna recalled with nostalgia* many of her school days.

4. We all tend to when faced with an unsavory* task.

5. The iconoclast• has the propensity* for reproaching* those who feel complacent• with leading a existence.


6. stagnant a. delay, put off

7. fatal b. motionless, dull, inactive

8. passe c. deadly, disastrous

9. procrastinate d. one side or view of person or situation

10. facet

234

e. outmoded, old-fashioned

TODAY'S IDIOM

to get up on the wrong side of the bed-to be in a bad mood When his mother raised Cain* about his slovenly* room, he accused her of getting up on the wrong side of the bed.



WHAT NEXT? Once the fashion industry has been able tofoist a new style on the teenager, the older generation tends to stigmatize it as some form of rebellion. What is often ignored is that the young consumers capitulate to what is originated* by someone outside of their group. The feelings of individuality and audacity that the teenager gets from a new style of dress result from the propensity* of their elders to disparage• them. The actual situation is that the clothing fashions soon become accepted by all: there is nothing upsetting or revolutionary about them. While people are becoming complacent• about the "new," the clothing industry is busy planning how to tantalize the teenager with next year's "fashion." This arbitrary* decision is guaranteed to foment• consternation* among adults once again in the following year.


NEW WORDS

foist foist

stigmatize stlg' 1m tiz

capitulate G pich' 0) lat

audacity o das· 0) te

tantalize tan' tl iz

1. Despite tenacious* resistance, they were ousted* from the strongpoint and had to ______ to the enemy.

2. It was an asinine* thing to do-to ______ his opponent as a bigot* and thus exacerbate* an already bitter campaign.

3. It is common to hear people disparage* those who paint in the modern genre•: they speak about the of the artist who submits a high white canvas with a black border as a serious work.

4. They are dubious• of such an artist and accuse him of trying to _____ _ as a work of art a rudimentary* exercise.

5. It is reprehensible* to a young child with the promise of a reward for being good when you have no intention of giving it.


6. foist a. surrender, make terms

7. stigmatize b. to mark with a disgrace

8. capitulate c. boldness, daring

9. audacity d. pass off slyly. ,pass as genuine

10. tantalize e. tease or torment by offering something good, but not deliver

TODAY'S IDIOM

castles in the air-a dream about some wonderful future

People on Skid Row* often build castles in the air.


NEW WORDS

retort n tort'

reticent ret'~ ~nt

tacit tas' it

chicanery shi ka' n~ r e docile dos' ~1


SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE To the derogatory* comments from the older generation the teenagers might retort that new fashions and styles are adopted by the elders with alacrtty.• Though they complain, women emulate• their daughters by shortening or lengthening their hems. They may appear reticent about the bother and expense of altering their wardrobe, but they give tacit approval to the change by rushing to the department stores where they jostle* each other to buy copies of the more expensive dresses. The conclusion one might reach after observing how women countenance• the arbitrary* changes year after year is that they are naive* or victims of some chicanery practiced by the clothing industry. Women may appear hapless* before the intimidation• of "style," but the real truth may lie in the fact that they are so docile because they secretly enjoy the yearly excitement around the latest fashions.

There's another famUiar word reintroduced today. Did you recognize reticent?


1. The reporter divulged* the blatant involved in the awarding of the contract.

2. Even the most person may become fractious• when he gets only a pittance• for his hard labor.

3. His egregious• behavior brought a reproach to his mother's eyes.

4. Most politicians are when asked to divulge• their ambitions.

5. He refused to ______ to the rash* question about his propensity* for imbibing._*


6. retort (v.)

7. reticent

8. tacit

9. chicanery

10. docile

236

a. understood, implied, not stated

b. easy to manage

c. to answer, reply

d. silent or reserved

e. -trtckecy, tuiderhandedness

TODAY'S IDIOM

to maintain the status quo-to keep things as they are

You hit the naU on the head* when you said we ought to maintain the status quo and not change horses in midstream. •



No matter what the fashion in dress, the fashion in education is an extensive vocabulary. Keep up with the fashion; build your vocabulary wardrobe.

REVIEW WORDS 1. audacity 2. capitulate 3. chicanery 4. docile 5. facet 6. fatal 7. foist 8. glib 9. homogeneous

1 0. legerdemain 11. malleable 12. passe 13. procrastinate 14. reticent 15. retort 16. stagnant 17. stigmatize 18. tacit 19. tantalize 20. trend

IDIOMS

DEFINITIONS a. reserved, silent b. pass as genuine, pass off slyly c. disastrous, deadly d. smooth of speech e. one side or view of person or situation f. daring, boldness g. reply, answer h. uniform, same i. capable of being formed or shaped j. put off, delay k. make terms, surrender I. underhandedness, trickery m. not stated, understood, implied n. to mark with a disgrace o. inactive, dull, motionless p. general direction q. old-fashioned, outmoded r. easy to manage s. deceptive adroitness, • sleight of hand t. tease or torment by offering something good, but fail to

deliver

21. castles in the air u. to be in a bad mood 22. to get up on the wrong side of the bed v. a drearn about a wonderful future 23. by hook or by crook w. at any cost, any way at all 24. to maintain the status quo x. to keep things as they are


1. ----------------------Answers on page 307. Take that extra few minutes now 2. ----------------to master the few words you made errors with. 3. ------------

237

WORDSEARCH 38

238


TV-The Octopus

Is there anyone you know who can remember a time when there was no

television? Perhaps a grandparent. but no one much younger is able to do so.

At the beginning, only a handful of stations existed. Early programs imitated

each other and tended to be CD . Some time later, there was the cable

1V expansion and greater variety was available. The developing @.::::::2 ___ _

was for ever-larger numbers of programs dealing with information as well as

entertainment.

The 1V industry. never ® when it comes to expanding viewer

interests, brought even more channels to the air, broadcasting 24 hours

every day of the week. The objective was to @ special groups ~th programs directed to special tastes and interests. Soon channels devoted to

games, to how to fix or make things, to romance dramas, to cartoons. etc.,·

sprang into existence. It appears that every ® of a viewer's interest

is being addressed. As more and more channels come on the air, as the result

of new technology. the variety is expanding beyond anything imagined by

those who can recall the beginnings of this magical medium.

Clues

CD 1st Day

@ 1st Day

® 4th Day

@ 3rd Day

® 2nd Day


WEEK 39 •!• DAY 1 NEW WoRDS

RULE, BRITTANIA

saga sA'ga

belated bt tat' ttd

An unforgettable saga of World War II has to do with the small French coastal town of Dunkirk. There, in 1940, thousands of British troops made a belated escape from the awesome* power of the German army and air force. They were removed by an array* of private boats, from huge yachts to decrepit fishing boats. At their own volition,* the skippers came close to the shore, while German planes bombed implacably.* They remained imperturbable under heavy fire. When their vessels were loaded, they dashed back to England. Once unloaded, they did not vacillate, but returned with equanimity* to their vigil* in the danger zone. The British proved once again that they are paragons* of comradeship in times of jeopardy.*

decrepit di krep' it

imperturbable tm' }X)r ter' lxllxll


vacillate vas'., lat

1. The of a lone man confronting* the turbulent* oceans in a small boat is an exploit* we fmd laudable.*

2. The speaker remained while his audience shouted caustic* comments about his mendacious* activities.

3. The ingrate* refused to accept Cindy's gift.

4. When released from incarceration,* he was gaunt* and _____ _

5. We are all familiar with the cliche* that he who is lost.


6. saga a. hesitate, fluctuate

7. belated b. heroic story

8.

9.

10.

decrepit c. broken down, worn out

imperturbable __ d. late, delayed

vacillate e. calm, steady, serene

TooAY's IDIOM

a sacred cow-a person or thing that cannot be criticized (From India, where cows may not be harmed because of religious rules)

I decided to throw down the gauntlet* by exposing the boss's son who had been ruling the roost* as the sacred cow of the business.


NEW WORDS

staunch stonch

opprobrium ~pro· bream

Machiavellian Mak. e a vel e an

unconscionable un kon · sha ne bal

pandemonium pan· da mo. ne am


THE GOOD GUYS VS. THE BAD GUYS The international adventure stories prevalent• on television follow meticulously* a plot that is inexorable* in its development. Those on the side of law and justice face perfidious• men and organizations. These are anathema• to those values the staunch heroes would defend. These infan1ous• men have no capacity for compassion, • and they treat the lovely women with opprobrium. The intrepid* heroes are placed in deleterious• situations as a result of the Machiavellian maneuvers of their opponents. One unconscionable act of duplicity-' follows another until the total destruction of the "good guys" seems at hand. At the last moment, usually anlidst the pandemonium of a battle, the cause for which the heroes strive trlumphs. However, evil is ubiquitous,* and next week another fracas• will erupt.


1. The coach heaped ______ upon the fledgling* ball player.

2. We are ready to rationalize* activities on the part of our stde if they are to the detriment• of our adversary. •

3. It was to Abraham Uncoln to keep a book he had borrowed without making tenacious• efforts to return it.

4. There was ______ as the presidential nominee entered the convention stte. •

5. She is such a friend, my reprehensible* actions do not cause a schism• between us.


6. staunch a. scorn, insult

strong, trusty, firm 7.

8.

9.

10.

240

opprobrium

Machiavellian

unconscionable --pandemonium __

b.

c.

d.

e.

without conscience, unreasonable

governed by opportunity, not principled

disorder, uproar

TODAY'S IDIOM

. through thick and thin-in spite of all sorts of difficulties

He decided to stick with his fatrweather friends* through thick and thin.



A FAMOUS MUTINY One of the most repugnant* names in popular legend is that of Captain William Bligh. He was the captain of the H. M.S. BolUlty in 1789, and the mutiny that erupted* aboard that ship was the basis for a film in which Charles Laughton portrayed Bligh as an awesome* bully and an unmitigated* villain. He would flay both the body and the spirit of anyone who crossed him. The crew developed such an aversion* to Bligh's mortifying actions and demeanor that, led by Fletcher Christian, they set the captain and 17 shipmates off in a lifeboat in the South Pacific. The ship continued to the Pitcairn Islands where the crew remained to live with the islanders. Laughton's delineation of Bligh remains as the image we have of him. Only recently has any attempt been made to vindicate Captain Bligh and to remove the heinous reputation that permeates* histocy.


NEw WoRDS

flay fli

demeanor dime" nar

delineation di lin" e a' shan

vindicate vin' da kit

heinous ha' nas

1. The mayor tried to ______ his actions that had been called capricious* and irrational* by critics.

2. He castigated* his opponents and went to great lengths to them with accusations of megalomania. •

3. His was atypical*; usually phlegmatic*, he was belligerent• and garrulous* during the broadcast.

4. "TTle most thing I have done," he said in a stentorian* voice, .. is eradicate* the untruth that my party is not compatible* with progress."

5. Then he gave an incisive* of his fulsome* opponents as an antiquated* group, complacent* about the noisome* conditions in a moribund* city.


6. flay a. hatefully evil

7. demeanor b. absolve, justify

8. delineation c. sketch, description in words

9. vindicate d. conduct, bearing

10. heinous e. strip off skin, scold harshly

TooAv's IDIOM

to take by storm-to make a fast impression The new opera star took the critics by storm and carried the day.*


NEW WORDS

turpitude tt~ r · J» tii

infraction in frak· shan

callous kar as

redress ri dres·

vituperation Vi tu' J»r a· shan


FAIR PLAY! Recently, there has been an attempt to improve Captain Bligh's tainted* image. Historians maintain that there was no turpitude in Bligh's actions aboard the H.M.S. BoW1ty.

Perhaps he was imprudent* in failing to keep his temper under control. While an infraction aboard ship was quickly criticized, Bligh never carried out those callous actions the movie dramatized in order to depict* an evil man, say his defenders. After the mutiny, Captain Bligh astutely* navigated the lifeboat with the other 17 men for over 3,000 miles to safety. This prodigious* feat alone, say those who would restore Bligh's good name, should be enough to allow for a full redress of the wrongs that have been blamed on him for over 150 years. While the coterie* defending Captain Bligh do not ask the public to praise him, they do request a more benevolent* attitude toward this traditionally* reprehensible* figure, and an end to the vituperation heaped upon him for these many years.


1. We do not condone* or tolerate* an of even the most trivial kind.

2. It takes a person to watch with equanimity* as a gullible,* naive* gfrl falls for the line of a loathsome* boy.

3. How easy it is to heap ______ upon someone at the nadir* of his career.

4. There seems to be no way to a grievance against at omnipotent* ruler.

5. From any facet* of his life, the acme* of moral ______ was reached by Adolph Hitler.


6. turpitude

7. infraction

8. callous

9. redress

1 0. vituperation

242

a. unfeeling

b. vileness, evil wickedness

c. to right a wrong, remedy

d. violation

e. blame, abuse

TODAY'S IDIOM

to be in fine fettle-to be in high spirits, or feeling well He did a lot of woolgathering* and was in .fine fettle

during the whole of the Indian summer.*



Our Brttish cousins have a vocabulary that differs from ours in many ways. Isn't it fortunate that we have to be responsible for the Amertcan version of this language only?

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. belated a. descrtption in words, sketch 2. callous b. firm, trusty, strong 3. decrepit c. fluctuate, hesitate 4. delineation d. violation 5. demeanor e. abuse, blame 6. flay f. serene, steady, calm 7. heinous g. uproar, disorder 8. imperturbable h. hatefully evil 9. infraction i. scold harshly, strtp off the skin

1 0. Machiavellian j. beartng, conduct 11. opprobrtum k. not prtncipled, governed by opportunity 12. pandemonium I. heroic story 13. redress m. delayed, late 14. saga n. unfeeling 15. staunch o. evil, wickedness, vileness 16. turpitude p. worn out, broken down 17. unconscionable q. unreasonable, without conscience 18. vacillate r. to rtght a wrong 19. vindicate s. justify, absolve 20. vituperation t. insult, scorn

IDIOMS 21. through thick and thin u. to make a fast impression 22. to take by storm 23. a sacred cow 24. to be in fine fettle

The answers can be found on page 308.

v. in spite of all sorts of difficulties w. to be in high spirits, feeling well x. a person who cannot be criticized


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

MEANINGS

243

WORDSEARCH 39

244


Psst . .. Need World Series Ticketsl

Think about this for a moment. Is there anything wrong in buying something

for one·dollar and reselling it for two dollars? Naturally, you would be correct

if you saw nothing amiss with this transaction; it's the way a capitalist

economy works. But, if you bought a ticket to a rock concert or baseball game for ten dollars and sold it for twenty, you would be committing an ..:;;CD ___ _

of the law. You might ask, "What's so ® about this?" The answer is

that you would be guilty of the practice known as "scalping." Does an

individual who offers a scarce ticket at a price above the original price descxve

the ® connected with the word "scalping"?

These hard-working and Iisk-taking individuals see themselves as go

betweens in a world where people are willing to spend additional money for a

popular event. However, law enforcement officials remain® in the

face of all reason as they arrest and fine these enterprising salesmen. Those

® believers in punishing law-breakers find nothing wrong with

trying to halt the scalping of tickets. For others, it is a way of doing business

that they claim hurts no one and is in keeping with a profit-driven economy.

Clues

<D 4th Day

® 3rd Day

@2nd Day

@ 1st Day

® 2nd Day



A POLITICAL SHOW There are few forms of entertainment more enjoyable than watching a glib* politician run for office. Most politicians have prepared speeches dealing with the prevalent• topics of the day. They can maintain a fervid* flow of rhetoric for hours at a time. In each locallty where he .is to appear, the advance work is prepared by a clique of trustworthy aides. In preparation for the show, they have dispersed* leaflets, put up posters, and sent out cars and trucks with loudspeakers to extol the erudite• qualities of their candidate. Soon, the crowd gathers. Loyal party workers come forward to shake the hand of their mentor. Now, with the facile solutions to complex problems carefully memorized, the show is ready to begin. One moment facetious, • the next moment profound, • the candidate works to convince the incredulous• among the voters.


1. It is not long before a young star has a ______ around him who sporadically* get their names into the newspapers.

2. At a time that requires tangible• proposals, all he offers is unconscionable•

rhetoric ret" ~r Jk

clique klek

extol ek stol'

mentor men· tar

facile fas· .,}

3. The detective interrogated• the adamant• prisoner in such a ______ way that he confessed after giving incontrovertible• evidence.

4. Youngsters scoff* when their elders the halcyon• days of long ago.

5. Amidst the adulation"' of the throng, • the film star, in all humility,* credited her ______ as the one most responsible.

Definitions

6. rhetoric

7. clique

8. extol

9. mentor

10. facile

Match the new words with their definitions.

a. counselor, coach, tutor

b. use (sometimes exaggerated) of language

c. easily accomplished or attained

d. praise highly

e. small, exclusive group of people

TODAY'S IDIOM

to live in a fool's paradise-to be happy without a real basis

He lived in a fool's paradise while he sowed wild oats•, but he soon had to pay the piper. •


NEW WORDS

cant kant

umbrage urn' blij

magnanimous mag nan' ;:} ffiC}S

vilify vii' ;:} fi

elucidate 1 to·~ dat


GETTING A GOOD LOOK The television press interview is conducive* to close scrutiny* of a candidate. His public speeches may contain many cant phrases, but a sharp question by an astute* reporter can destroy a cliche • filled statement. The politician now will procrastinate* in his answer; a new facet* of his personality may be revealed by his demeanor.* Perhaps he will take umbrage at a suggestion that he favors the affluent.* His record is searched for evidence that he has been equally magnanimous to the indigent.* He accuses the reporter of attempting to vilify him. Is he being accused of turpitude* in office? It is time to discreetly* go on to another topic. The candidate wishes to extol* the virtues of his program and record. The press wants to allude* to things that keep him in the midst of controversy. They insist that he elucidate positions that the politician would rather leave in a nebulous* state.


1. We feel so sanctimonious* when we the character of a felon*.

2. The diplomat was astute* enough to see through the of the Machiavellian* ambassador.

3. A somber* examination of those indigent* families, bereft* of hope, sunken in apathy,* should motivate* us to be more in our attempts to improve their lot.

4. I was flabbergasted* when he took ______ at my whimsical* remarks.

5. The judge ordered the censor to his reasons for removing passages from the book in such a capricious* manner.


6. cant a. insincere or almost meaningless talk

7. umbrage b. to make clear 8. magnanimous __ c. resentment, offense

9. vilify

1 0. elucidate

246

d. malign,* slander

e. generous, noble

TODAY'S IDIOM

the sum and substance--the heart or substantial part

The sum and substance of our pyrrhic victory* was that our hopes for a stable future had gone up in smoke.*



SEEING IS LEARNING While we are all cognizant* of the importance of words to create certain impressions, gesture is relegated* to a much lesser role. Gestures are an important concomitant* to even the most vapid speech, enhancing it and giving the hearer something to look at while he listens. The value of seeing at the same time as listening was shown when a class at a university, unwieldy because of its large size, was split up. One group was put into a room in close proximity to good loudspeakers. Every nuance* of the lecturer's voice could be heard clearly. Because they had no person on whom to place their attention, they soon took on the appearance of extreme lassitude: most students became lethargic* and rested their heads on their desks. The separation of visual and aural communication tended to vitiate the learning process. The listening group received grades lower than those received by those who could look at as well as hear the instructor. Once more your keen eye and memory were being tested. Did you recognize lassitude as being from an earlier lesson?


NEW WORDS

vapid vap'ld

unwieldy un wer de'

proximity prok stm' ~ te

lassitude las· a tiid

vitiate vish' eat

1. As the scion* of an affluent* family, he was often in to opulence.* 2. After playing with his progeny* in the enervating* sun, he staggered back to his

room where he was overcome with _____ _

3. As a concomitant* to his belligerent* and vituperative* antipathy* toward his government, he became an expatriate,* but he found it a life.

4. Kyra was so disgruntled* about having to move the piano, she procrastinated* for days.

5. The irrelevant* evidence seemed to ______ the prosecutor's case and precluded* a conviction.


6. vapid a. bulky, difficult to handle 7. unwieldy b. destroy the use or value 8. proximity c. uninteresting, dull 9. lassitude d. nearness

10. vitiate e. weariness, weakness

TODAY'S IDIOM

on pins and needles-to be on edge, jumpy He was on pins and needles while he cooled his heels* in the principal's office.


NEW WORDS

augment og ment·

fatuous fach· u ~

contort bn tort·

repertoire rep· ~r twAr

imperceptible tm· par sep· h) ~1


THE HAMMY OLD DAYS Actors depend upon their ability to gesticulate• almost as much as upon speech to obtain their desired histrionic* effects. With them, gesture seiVes much more than merely to augment speech. When their communication is by gesture alone, it is called pantomime. In the early silent motion picture period, gestures were fl~boyant. • To show that he was distraught* about the danger in which the heroine had been placed, the hero would go through the most fatuous actions. He would stagger, beat his breast, tear hts hair, and contort hts face into the most doleful* appearance. There weren't many simple or restrained gestures in hts repertoire. The heroine, to indicate her love, would fling her arms wide and ardently* jump into her sweetheart's arms. It was only much later that actors became skilled enough to communicate with the audience through discreet• gestures and almost imperceptible changes in facial expression that could transmit nuances• of emotion.


1. The new employee wanted to gain favor with his boss, and his obsequious• desires led to the most behavior.

2. Her virtuosity* was demonstrated by the works she performed from her ____ _

3. He had always appeared virile, • so that the decline toward senility* went unnoticed until he succumbed* and began to use a cane.

4. The paroxysm• of coughing seiVed to her body until she could gain a respite.•

5. The parsimonious• octogenarian* sought to ______ his wealth by removing 1t from its cache* and placing it in a bank.


6. augment a. extremely slight or gradual 7. fatuous b. enlarge, increase

8. contort c. foolish, s1lly, inane•

9. repertoire d. twist violently 10. imperceptible e. works that an artist is ready to perform

TODAY'S IDIOM

to have at one's fingertips-to have thorough knowledge, to have ready He had at his .fingertips an extensive repertoire. •

248 ANSW£RS ARE ON PACE 308

WEEK 4 REVIEW

If there's one thing a politician must know how to do, it is to use words effectively. He must weigh carefully each. and every utterance. He must also select the proper word for the audience he is addressing. You may never run for office, but it would be comforting to know you were ready for it-vocabulary-wise!

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. augment a. twist violently 2. cant b. increase, enlarge 3. clique c. nearness 4. contort d. destroy the use 9r value 5. elucidate e. praise highly 6. extol f. use (sometimes exaggerated) of language 7. facile g. to make clear 8. fatuous h. slander, malign* 9. imperceptible i. difficult to handle, bulky

1 0. lassitude j. works that an artist is ready to perform 11. magnanimous k. tutor, counselor, coach 12. mentor I. noble, generous 13. proximity m. insincere or almost meaningless talk 14. repertoire n. small, exclusive group of people 15. rhetoric o. extremely slight or gradual 16. umbrage P· dull, uninteresting 17. unwieldy q. weakness, weariness 18. vapid r. inane, • foolish, silly 19. vilify s. easily accomplished or attained 20. vitiate t. offense, resentment

IDIOMS 21. to live in a fool's paradise u. the heart or substantial part 22. the sum and substance v. to be on edge, jumpy 23. on pins and needles w. to have ready, to have a thorough knowledge 24. to have at one's fingertips x. to be happy without a real basis

Check your answers on page 308. Get to work learning the words that gave you trouble.


1. ----------------

2. ----------------

3. ----------------

MEANINGS

249

HAPLESS HEADLINES (From Weeks 36-40)

250

•!• From the list of vocabulary words below choose the best ones to complete each of the newspaper headlines.

a. Therapy b. Facile c. Fatal d. Decrepit e. Confront f. Retort g. Vehemently h. Tacit i. Legerdemain j. Vapid k. Phobia I. Clique m. Fatuous n. Repertoire o. Motivate p. Capitulate q. Glib r. Lassitude s. Mentor t. Vertigo

1. U.S. Diplomats Chinese over Alleged A-bomb Tests

2. Psychologist Claims Success in Treating Flying ___ _

3. Rebels . Throw Down Arms

4. Auto Accident Proves to Family

5. Salesman Arrested in Con Game

6. Witness Denies Allegation

7. Pentagon Asks for Funds to Replace" ____ .. Aircraft

8. New Company Director Praises Former ___ _

9. La Boheme is Mainstay of Opera Star's ___ _

10. Speech Urged After Stroke


WORDSEARCH 40


In Thai/an~ Mum~ the Word

In this country we take for granted our right to speak out about our elected

officials in any way we wish, without fear of arrest or imprisonment. The most

disrespectful language is allowed. While some may take CD at an

insult against the president, our Constitution protects that right.

Now, consider the country of Thailand. That land in southeastern Asia is

ruled by a king. What happens to an individual who fails to ® this

monarch? There is a case of a person who joked that if he were king he could

sleep late every day and drink wine in the afternoon. For this somewhat

® remark, he was sent to prison for seven ytars. Or take the stocy

of the woman who was hanging up the king's photograph. When the police

asked her what she was doing, she replied, ''I'm nailing it up there on my wall." She said "it" instead of"the king's photograph" and for this®...:::. ___ _

alleged insult, she also was sent away for seven years.

While some U.S. citizens may=® ____ our leaders, in Thailand the less

said the better.

Clues

CD 2nd Day

@ 1st Day

® 4th Day

@ 1st Day

® 2nd Day


NEW WORDS

curry ker' e

pall pol

succulent suk' y;J l~nt

satiety ~ ti' ~ te intrinsic in trin' sik


QUEEN OF THE SUPERMARKET The American housewife is queen of all she surveys in the supermarket. She decides what items shall be purchased. Grocery manufacturers are well aware of her power to make one product a success and another a failure. They spend huge sums developing new products with which to curry her favor. Fearful that a successful product will soon begin to pan the manufacturers, without cessation,"' come out with "new and improved" versions to whet* her appetite. Sometimes it is only a box or package that has been changed-perhaps a colorful photo of a succulent meal on a 1V dinner box. In the larger supermarkets the housewife is faced with a satiety of merchandise, particularly in the copiously* stocked laundry detergent section. While there may be almost no intrinsic difference among the many brands, advertising and packaging serves to importune• her to buy one rather than another. Did you spot it? Th.e "new word" you've seen before? It's intrinsic.


1. The connoisseur* of fine foods declared the restaurant the ultimate• in the preparation of meat dishes.

2. She coveted* the antiquated* locket even though it had only an ______ value.

3. He discreetly* tried to favor with his employer. 4. The host exhorted* his guests to eat to _____ _

5. Those conditions were not conducive• to a felicitous• evening as the dance would soon for the lack of feminine companionship.


6. curry a. excess, overly full, surfeit*

7. pall b. within itself, inherent*

8. succulent c. to seek favor by flattery 9. satiety d. juicy

1 0. intrinsic e. cease to please, become dull

TODAY'S IDIOM

a pretty kettle of fish-a mess, troubles

He thought it was an innocent white lie,* but it got him into a pretty kettle of flsh.



IT'S WHAT'S OUTSIDE THAT COUNTS Packaging of grocery items is a facet• of advertising that is too little appreciated by consumers. Walking up and down the aisles of a supermarket, one seldom stops to analyze the indMdual package in the potpourri of items on the shelves. The manufacturer had to glean• and test many different designs before he accepted the one you see in the array* before you. Before he will sanction the use of a particular can, box, or bottle, he must know many things about its efficacy.• He wants to know if the colors attract: a white box may denote cleanliness, a red one, strength. There may be a photo or a drawing that will allude to the product's use or special qualities. A lackluster* package may be fatal. • Next, the size and shape are important elements. The housewife may want a small package for easy storing, but a larger package may suggest economy. A round bottle may look attractive, but a square one is easier to stack. These are some of the insidious aspects of packaging, the main purpose of which is to attract your attention as you peruse* the crowded supermarket shelves.


NEW WORDS

potpourri pa' pQ ..e·

sanction sangk'sh~n

denote di not'

allude ~ tod·

insidious in sid' e ~s

1. I cannot ______ your lax* attitude towards the imminent* threat of a conflagration.*

2. In some way the glib* salesman played upon my repressed* desires and sold me a gaudy* sports car.

3. You can be sure the candidate will ______ to the moribund* state of our economy and offer his panacea.*

4. A of today's musical hits sounds more like cacophony* than harmony.

5. His levity* at such a serious moment a lack of feeling.


6. potpourri a. sly, seductive, treacherous

7. sanction b. hint, suggest

8. denote c. endorse, certify

9. allude d. medley, mixture

1 0. insidious e. indicate, show, mean

TODAY'S IDIOM

the acid test-a severe test

The new job was an acid test of his ability to bring home the bacon.*


NEW WORDS

propriety prn pri· ~ te advent ad' vent

impious im' pe ~s proffer prof ar

spate spat


"TRIED AND TRUE" Few question the propriety of the current haste on the part of manufacturers to bring out "new and improved" products at the prevalent• rate. At one time, in the dim, distant past before the advent of television, it was the vogue• for products to be advertised on the merits of their "tried and true" qualities. Few advertisers were impious enough to jettison• any part of a product that had been accepted by the public. Year after year, the local grocery store owner would proffer the same box of cereal, the same house cleaner. The acceptance was of the time-tested product, and it appeared almost unconscionable* for the manufacturer to change his merchandise. Today's spate of transient• products would have been considered an anomaly* in those days.


1. A few years ago there was a of science-fiction films about awesome• monsters causing pandemonium• on our planet, but after a surfeit* of that genre•, their popularity began to wane.•

2. With the of mandatory• safety inspections, some of the more decrepit* automobiles have been eradicated. •

3. We question the of making fun of obese• people.

4. I'd like to my belated* congratulations on your 25 years of married serenity.•

5. In the milieu• of city street life it is not atypical• to hear ______ comments about authority.


6. propriety

7. advent

8. impious

9. proffer

10. spate

254

a. suitability, correctness

b. offer for acceptance

c. the coming of an important event

d. lacking respect, irreverent

e. rush, flood

TODAY'S IDIOM

a blind alley-a direction that leads nowhere

The modus operandi* was leading up a blind alley and they were barking up the wrong tree. •



WHAT'S IN A NAME? Supermarkets now cany their own products to compete with the national brands. These "house" brands are not in a felicitous* position because they cannot be advertised widely. Supermarkets overcome this encumbrance* by making these brands less expensive. Many people believe the shibboleth. "You get what you pay for," and they purchase items on the premise* that quality varies as the price does. Are the claims made by nationally advertised brands bogus? How can one bread company substantiate its nutritive superiority over another? As there is no incontrovertible* evidence, the more expensive bread (or coffee, etc.) must compensate* by increased advertising. They make inordinate* claims, using those raucous techniques proven so successful in convincing the frugal* consumer to switch to a more costly brand.


NEw WoRDS

shibboleth shtb' ~lith

bogus oo' g~s

substantiate ~b stan. she at

nutritive nii' t~ tiv

raucous ro' k~s

1. Mothers should be vigilant* that their children's food has the proper _____ _ value.

2. There were complaints about the inordinate* number of fatal* accidents caused by inebriated* drivers.

3. People often try to compensate* for their deplorable* lack of culture by repeating the ______ , "I know what I like."

4. He had the audacity* to try to foist* a ______ dollar on me.

5. The reporter wanted to elicit* the pertinent* facts from the reticent• witness so he could the charge of moral turpitude* against the high city official.


6. shibboleth a. pet phrase, slogan

7. bogus b. harsh, shrill

8. substantiate c. counterfeit, fake

9. nutritive d. having nourishing properties

10. raucous e. confirm, ratify

TODAY'S IDIOM

to twist around one's finger-to control completely

He winked at* the little girl's bad behavior; she had him twisted around her fmger.



You can be sure of a balanced language if you are well acquainted with all the products (words) available in your supermarket (vocabulary).

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. advent a. suggest, hint 2. allude b. surfeit,* excess, fullness 3. bogus c. coming of an important event 4. cuny d. having nourishing properties 5. denote e. slogan, pet phrase 6. impious f. correctness, suitability 7. insidious g. juicy 8. intrinsic h. mixture, medley 9. nutritive i. mean, show, indicate

10. pall j. to seek favor by flattery 11. potpourri k. irreverent. lacking respect 12. proffer I. fake, counterfeit 13. propriety m. ratify, confirm 14. raucous n. rush. flood 15. sanction o. become dull. cease to please 16. satiety p. treacherous, sly. seductive 17. shibboleth q. certify. endorse 18. spate r. inherent,* within itself 19. substantiate s. offer for acceptance 20. succulent t. shrill, harsh

IDIOMS 21. to twist around one's finger u. a severe test 22. the acid test 23 .. a pretty kettle of fish 24. a blind alley


256

v. a directi<;m that leads nowhere w. a mess, trouble x. to control completely


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 41


Age Discrimination

One of the most <D forms of discrimination is that based upon age.

We have become aware through publicity and education that bias and

discrimination based upon race, color, creed, and sex are not to be accepted.

Through laws passed by the Congress of the United States and by individual

states, we agree that using these criteria for hiring, promoting, or firing in the

workplace is a @ and undemocratic excuse. Many lawsuits have

supported this most basic right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"

protected by our Constitution.

Why is it, then, that so few question the ® of preventing those

viewed as "too old" from getting positions, or, if already on the Job,

promotions? Advanced age also leads to the firing of such employees and

their replacement with younger applicants. Is there something @ in

youth that suggests that older workers cannot do the Job as well? Until age

discrimination goes the way of all of the other forms of prejudice, we may

continue to ® the reasoning that "younger is better."

Clues

Q) 2nd Day

@ 4th Day

@ 3rd Day

@) 1st Day

® 2nd Day


NEW WORDS

quandary kwon· dCJr e

callous kar CJs

expedient ek spe· de CJnt

negligible neg· lCJ jCJ ool

blase bla za·


YOU CAN'T HELP BUT WATCH The consumer is in a quandary about making a felicitous* selection among the array* of products. The advertisers must influence the malleable* consumer, and often they do it in the most callous ways. Television offers many tangible* advantages for reaching the consumer. As a result, the consumer is inundated* by commercials. The advertiser knows that a television commercial is the most expedient way to reach large numbers of people. The cost for each commercial film is prodigious,* but because the audience is so large, the cost per viewer is negligible. Each commercial is prepared in the most meticulous* way in order to catch the attention of even the most blase viewer and hold it until the message is through. The reintroduced "new word" should have stood out immediately. Did it? It's callous, of course.


1. It was fortuitous* that the accident occurred when there were _____ _ numbers of childreq in the buses.

2. He was in a about which selection from his extensive repertoire* it would be feasible* to perform for the children.

3. Because she had committed only a venial* offense, he thought it to abjure* a severe punishment.

4. Who can be about the presence of many indigent* families in close proximity* to affluence?*

5. People have become so ______ about the once thrilling, now mundane* flights into space.


6. quandary a. indifferent, not responsive to excitement 7. callous b. hardened, unfeeling 8. expedient (adj.) __ c. doubt, dilemma 9. negligible d. advisable, fit

10. blase e. trifling, inconsiderable

TODAY'S IDIOM

to do one's heart good-to make one feel happy or better It did my heart good to see that inveterate* egotist* eat humble pie.*



TRICKS OF THE TRADE

ennui An' we

comelr kum' le

frenetic r~ net' tk

artifice Ar" b fts

Some television commercials, trying to break through the ennui built up in the viewer by the plethora* of competition, employ humor. Others feature a comely girl as a pretext* for getting the viewer to stay tuned in. At times raucous* music, accompanied by some frenetic activities, is designed to preclude* the viewer's loss of attention. The advertiser will employ every bit of artifice at the film maker's command to make a trenchant* commercial. The diversity of appeals made to the viewer is a concomitant* of the many ways people react to commercials. A great deal of time and money has gone into placing the consumer's psychological make-up under scrutiny. •

~iversitr d~ ver" ~ te

Sampie Sentences Insert the new words in these sentences.

1. The omnipotent* dictator employed all of his rhetoric* to vilify* those who would be brash* enough to suggest that a of opinions should be expressed.

2. The fledgling* pianist knew that his mentor* would take umbrage* at his yawning during the lesson, but the feeling of was overwhelming.

3. He was reticent* about revealing his clandestine* meetings with a _____ _ young girl counselor at this camp.

4. They furtively* employed every kind of to be able to meet.

5. They were vigilant* in order that their surreptitious* meetings would not be discovered, and it often required changes of plans to preclude* exposure.


6. ennui

7. comely

8. frenetic

9. artifice

1 0. diversity

a. frantic, frenzied

b. boredom

c. beautiful, handsome

d. strategy, trickery

e. variety, change

TODAY'S IDIOM

worth one's weight in gold--extremely valuable, very useful The coach said the new star center was worth his weight in gold.


NEW WORDS

qualm kwa.m

expurgate ek· spar gat

begrudge bi gruf

artless art· lis

gratuity grn to·~ te


GOING TO THE SOURCE The wide diversity* of reasons people have for buying one product rather . than another are investigated by the advertising people in order to prepare efficacious* commercials. They do not have the slightest qualm about questioning the consumer about personal things in her own domicile.* The consumer is requested not to expurgate her answers. Generally, people are not reticent* and do not begrudge giving the time and effort. The questions delve rather deeply, and what the artless responses divulge* will help the advertiser decide what to put into his next commercial. After a large number of interviews, the copious* results make it feasible* to prognosticate* how well the commercial will do. The inteiViewer usually offers no gratuity to the person who has helped, but often a sample of the product is proffered* as thanks.


1. A successful television program can be built around the ______ comments of vecy young children.

2. At times, the producer must some of the things said by these children because they are too candid.*

3. He had a serious about hunting for the nearly extinct* quany.*

4. He took umbrage* when I offered a to augment* his small salacy.

5. She did not paying the pittance* extra for a better coat.


6. qualm

7. expurgate

8. begrudge

9. artless

1 0. gratuity

260

a. remove objectionable parts or passages

b. to be resentful or reluctant

c. innocent, naive

d. tip

e. twinge of conscience

TODAY'S IDIOM

to make the best of a bad bargain-to change or go along with a poor situation

After he bought the white elephant,* he made the best of a bad bargain and let sleeping dogs lie.*



IT SEEMS TO WORK Despite the antipathy* toward commercials expressed by the viewers, the remarkable success of television commercials in selling products makes it manifest that the advertiser has gleaned* what the viewer wants to see and hear from his research interview. This has helped the advertiser delve deeply into what motivates* people when they go into the supermarket to purchase products. The advertising agency is never capricious and can vindicate* spending large sums of money on research. Having uncovered what the public wants, the advertiser expedites* putting the requisite words, music, and photographs of the product on rum. He will thus replenish the never-ending, ubiquitous* television commercial supply in the hope that the consumer will remember some facet* of the rum and buy the product.


NEW WORDS

manifest man·~ fest

delve delv

capricious G prfsh· ~s

requisite rek· w.l zit

replenish rt plen· ish

1. If we below and behind the rhetoric* and invective, • we may discover the profound* reasons for the ferment* in our land.

2. He was reticent* about emulating* those who, after eating almost to satiety,• rushed to the food on their plates.

3. It was that an arbiter* would be needed because neither side would capitulate* to a planJoisted* on them by the other side.

4. When the acrimonious* discussion about his actions had attenuated, • he was able to vindicate• his conduct.

5. One mortifying* for the position was that he would have to work for one year under the aegis* of a fatuous• egotist. •


6. manifest

7. delve

8. capricious

9. requisite

1 0. replenish

a. requirement

b. evident, obvious

c. fanciful, whimsical*

d. to rut again, to restock

e. dig. do research

TODAY'S IDIOM

to make ends meet-to manage on a given income He turned thumbs down* on a new car; he was

having enough trouble making ends meet, as it was.



As you watch your next television commercial try to imagine what questions were asked by the research people as they interviewed the possible consumers. Advertisers have to select their words carefully. You can select words only when you have large numbers at your command.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. artifice a. to remove objectionable parts or passages 2. artless b. twinge of conscience 3. begrudge c. handsome, beautiful 4. blase d. strategy, trickery 5. callous e. fit, advisable 6. capricious f. indifferent, not responsive to excitement 7. comely g. fanciful, whimsical* 8. delve h. to do research, dig 9. diversity i. to be resentful or reluctant

10. ennui j. inconsiderable, trifling 11. expedient k. boredom 12. expurgate I. obvious, evident 13. frenetic m. to restock, fill again 14. gratuity n. change, variety 15. manifest o. dilemma, doubt 16. negligible p. unfeeling, hardened 17. qualm q. frenzied, frantic 18. quandary r. requirement 19. replenish s. tip 20. requisite t. naive, innocent

IDIOMS 21. to make the best of a bad bargain u. extremely valuable, very useful 22. to do one's heart good v. to make one feel happy or better 23. worth one's weight in gold w. to manage on a given income 24. to make ends meet

Check your answers on page 309. Learn those words you missed!

262

x. to change or go along with a poor situation


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 42

•:• Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following stacy with one of the new words you learned this week.

An Historic Date

One event that takes place so rarely that almost no one alive when it happens

can remember the previous occurrence is the changing of the centwy

number. The passing of the <D number of years brings about the end

of the 20th centucy and the advent of the 21st. Is there anyone-=® ___ _

enough to reach this historic date without experiencing the excitement of this

once-in-a-lifetime moment?

While we may feel that events in our lifetime happen in a-=-® ____ way, the

stroke of midnight on December 31, 2000, ushered in a new century. It

served as a time to reflect upon the @ of events in our lives, both

positive and negative, that the 20th centucy encompassed. It is obvious to all

that the past 100 years have altered the world in ways no one could

anticipate at the end of the 19th centucy. There are many who ®...;_s ___ _

into the past and make predictions for the new centucy. December 31, 2000,

was a time for reflection and promise.

Clues

CD 4th Day

® 1st Day

@ 4th Day

@ 2nd Day

® 4th Day


NEW WoRDS

roster ros' br

stunted stunt' id

atrophy at'~ fe

maim mam

ameliorate ~ me' ly~ rcit


IT TAKES MORE THAN MEDICINE If one were to look at the roster of physical handicaps, one would reach the somber* conclusion that the list is a long one. Included would be stunted development of an arm or leg due to a birth anomaly.* Others would be the result of a crippling disease that has caused muscles to atrophy. The list would go on with illnesses and injuries that maim and debilitate.* Modem medicine has done much to ameliorate the physical problems. However, there are an inordinate* number of problems of the handicapped that have still to be alleviated.* People are not naturally callous,* but in some perverse* way they have the propensity* to repress* any concern with the physically handicapped. The social problems seem to be inherent* in our own attitudes.


1. If you heap opprobrium* on an impious* child, it probably will not _____ _ the conditions that led to the rebelliousness.

2. The coach knew he would have to add experienced players to the _____ _ to compensate* for the spate* of freshmen on the team.

3. There seems to be voluminous* evidence that the mother's smoking will ______ the baby's growth.

4. The prodigy* allowed his musical talent to ______ as he redirected his career.

5. When it seemed that Reggie would ______ his opponent, we broke up the fight.


6. roster

7. stunted

8. atrophy

9. maim

1 0. ameliorate

264

a. checked in natural growth, held back in growth

b. waste away

c. a list of names

d. improve, relieve

e. disable, cripple

TODAY'S IDIOM

to burn the midnight oil-to study or work until very late

The radio was such an enigma* that he had to burn the midnight ou• for several nights in order to get it working.



DOING THE RIGHT THING The obstacles that frustrate• the physically handicapped person who is seeking employment may turn him into a cynic. Too often a prospective employer, with a rather unctuous manner, actually tends to degrade* the handicapped by proffering* employment that is really beneath them and their abilities. The employer appears to be acting in a benevolent manner, but this attitude shows no compassion,* for he really expects the person seeking the job to remain subservient. This iniquity cannot but give the handicapped a feeling that they are being discriminated against. He does not expect a sinecure,* but he has an aversion* to the prevalent* belief that he should consider himself lucky to fmd any employment.


NEW WoRDS

cynic stn· lk

unctuous ungk' chu ~s

benevolent oo nev' ~ l~nt

subservient ~b ser' ve ~nt

iniquity in ik' ~ te

1. We had to wince* as we watched the newcomer tiy to wheedle* and ingratiate* himself into the teacher's favor in the most manner.

2. It is easy to become a when the same adults who inveigh* most vehemently* against the uncouth* actions that they say permeate* our youth drink to satiety* and behave fatuously.*

3. We all have moments when we vacillate* between selfish and ______ desires.

4. While his demeanor* remained imperturbable,* there was latent* anger at the ignominious* and role he had to play.

5. Those who are complacent* about any in our society should be wary* of the unsavory* consequences for all.


6. cynic

7. unctuous

8. benevolent

9. subservient

10. iniquity

a. servile, obsequious*

b. pessimist, skeptic

c. affectedly emotional

d. kindly, charitable

e. injustice, wickedness

TODAY'S IDIOM

to lay one~ cards on t/Je table-to talk frankly He knew he was out of his depth* so he laid his cards

on the table and asked for assistance.


NEW WORDS

largess hir' jis

criterion kri tir' e ;m

repent ri pent'

mollify mol' a fi

mercenary mer' sa ner' e


A BETTER WAY Why is there any question about the propriety* of hiring the physically handicapped? No one who understands their needs can condone* this attitude. The offering of employment should not be considered a largess. There should be no need to vindicate* the hiring of a handicapped p6rSon. The only criterion should be what he is capable of doing. If this is the approach, the handicapped worker will not feel he is an encumbrance* to his boss. The employer, on the other hand, will find it conducive* to good work and will not repent his having tried something new just to mollify his conscience. Even for the most mercenary employer, there should be no reticence* in eliciting* the best that is possible from the handicapped worker.


1. He felt it would be ignominious* for him to accept any ______ from the charlatan* whose Machiavellian* schemes had made him affluent. •

2. Behind the facade* of ostensible* benevolence* there was a ______ streak.

3. The platitude, "I know what I like," is often used to rationalize* our lack of a ______ for things about which we are dubious. •

4. When Mother is in a pique* about some infraction* of a rule, it takes all of our dexterity* to her.

5. After every election we , in a belated* criticism, the apathy* and complacency* of so many people who failed to vote.

Definitions Match the new words with their defmitions.

6. largess a. gift, gratuity*, liberality

7. criterion b. model, standard, test

8. repent c. motivated* by desire for gain, greedy

9. mollify d. pacify, appease

10. mercenary (adj.) __ e. regret, desire to make amends

TooAv's IDIOM

a bolt from the blue-a great surprise

The windfall* from his distant cousin came like a boltjrom the blue.



JUST BE YOURSELF Socially, the handicapped person is often treated as apari.ah. Most people hold themselves aloof from normal contact with those who are "different." This social separation propagates• additional feelings of antipathy*. If "normal" individuals would socialize with the handicapped individual, they would learn in a pragmatic way that these are people who happen to have a physical handicap; the handicap does not make them any less human. The iniquity* of assuming that ph}'sical superiority equals moral superiority prevents all of us from direct human relationships. As long as there is a vestige of feeling that handicapped people are inferior, then we are all handicapped in one way or another. Under the guise of physical superiority we demonstrate a moral turpitude* that is harmful to all.


NEW WORDS

pariah ~ n·~

aloof alOf

pragmatic prag mat· ik

vestige ves· tij

guise giz

1. Mter therapy*, there remained hardly a ______ of his phobia*.

2. He was stigmatized* as a when he had the audacity* to boast of his nefarious• and sordid* career printing bogus• money.

3. Although many people say this is a propitious• time to invest in the stock market, there is a tenable argument for remaining ------

4. In the of maintaining national unity under military rule, there was a paucity* of even innocuous• dissent•.

5. "You can't argue with success," was his reply to derogatory* remarks about a movie star who had only superficial* talent as an actor.


6. pariah a. manner, appearance, mien• 7. aloof b. social outcast 8. pragmatic c. distant, apart, reserved 9. vestige

10. guise d. trace, evidence

e. practical, based on experience

TODAY'S IDIOM

to tell tales out of school-to reveal harmful secrets

The fat was in the fire• for the politician when his private secretary started telling tales out of school about his secret sources of income.



There are various kinds of handicaps. One that we can do something about, and you are now doing it, is the language handicap. Our fullest potential can be realized only when there is no barrier between what we want to say or write and our ability to express ourselves.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. aloof a. based on experience, practical 2. ameliorate b. mien,* appearance, manner 3. atrophy c. a list of names 4. benevolent d. skeptic, pessimist 5. criterion e. test, model, standard 6. cynic f. desire to make amends, regret 7. guise g. obsequious,* servile 8. iniquity h. held back or checked in natural growth 9. largess i. social outcast

10. maim j. evidence, trace 11. mercenary k. waste away 12. mollify I. charitable, kindly 13. pariah m. appease, pacify 14. pragmatic n. wickedness, injustice 15. repent o. cripple, disable 16. roster p. reserved, apart. distant 17. stunted q. greedy, motivated* by desire for gain 18. subservient r. liberality, gift, gratuity* 19. unctuous s. affectedly emotional 20. vestige t. relieve, improve

IDIOMS 21. to burn the midnight oil u. to reveal harmful secrets 22. to lay one's cards on the table v. a great surprise 23. a bolt from the blue w. to talk frankly 24. to tell tales out of school x. to study or work until very late


268


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH 43


Whistle Blowing

There appears to be a question of how much loyalty employees owe to their

employers-whether private or governmental. Many companies go out of their

way to encourage employees to make suggestions that will improve the way

they operate. A CD employer will not criticize or reprimand an

employee who points out problems having to do with the way other employees

are harming the business. In fact, it should be in the bosses' interest that the

person who has become known as a "whistle blower" is encouraged to alert

them to a problem.

However, many such whistle blowers face harsh punishment for calling

attention to illegal or unethical actions. The whistle blower soon becomes a

® in the workplace. Under the @ of some minor error, or

other excuse, the informer might be demoted, transferred, or fired. This

@ often goes unreported. As a result, the employees go back to

"business as usual" without any change. They become used to whatever they

may see around them and to the belief that they should not make waves.

Thus, no attempt to ® the situation actually takes place.

Clues

(i) 2nd Day

Q) 4th Day

@ 4th Day

@ 2nd Day

® 1st Day


NEw WoRDS

nullify nul' C) fi

deluge del' yOj

futility fyU ur C) te

carnage kar' nij

technology tek not' C) je


HAVE WE MASTERED OUR ENVIRONMENT? Natural disasters tend to nullify the best efforts of mankind. It is as though there are forces at work that are contemptuous• of our proud achievements. Who has not read of or seen the waters that deluge our towns and cities, jeopardizing* lives and culminating* in the destruction of the results of endless work in the space of a few moments? We are all vulnerable* to feelings of futility as we view the carnage caused to cattle from the sudden inundation. • Despite the laudable* advances made in technology, it can be seen that we cannot yet say we have mastered our environment. Disasters of this type, leaving only pathetic* vestiges• of homes and shops, are accepted as inevitable, • and all we can do is to attempt to ameliorate• the conditions that result.


1. In spite of his efforts to cajole* the girl, she remained aloof, • and the _____ _ of his efforts made him lugubrious. •

2. To our consternation, • modern has made feasible* a spate• of lethal* devices that could lead to the inadvertent• destruction of the world.

3. In order to the height advantage of his adversary, • he abjured* smoking and did an inordinate amount of exercise until he was the acme of litheness• and dexterity.•

4. We found it impossible to mollify* the irate• owner of three prize cats as he viewed the ______ caused by our large dog.

5. The office was ______ with requests for his autograph as the girls became cognizant* of his identity.


6. nullify a. slaughter 7. deluge (v.) b. tCI flood 8. futility c. abolish, cancel

9. carnage d. applied science 1 0. technology e. uselessness

TODAY'S IDIOM

to build upon sand-to have a poor base, or not sufficient preparation

Because they were amateurs and without money, the political campaign was buUt upon sand and the candidate was a flash in the pan. •


GOOD NEWS-AND BAD One of the latent• dangers indigenous• to our constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press has to do with the protection of the indMdual against the detriment• that might come from news reports involving him. There are libel laws that protect against false charges. If an indMdual believes his character or Uvelihood have been damaged by a defamatory article, he can sue. As the plaintiff he must refute• the story and show how the defendant caused him harm by printing a canard. The defendant attempts to substantiate* the truth of the article. The printing of news may besmirch* an indMdual's character, but there is no way to alleviate* this problem without changes in the Constitution. This would be tantamount• to destroying the efficacy* of our coveted* right to learn the truth from the press. We all deprecate a situation in which someone suffers because of exposure in the newspapers. Only when the harm is caused by someone with a desire to maltgn* under the guise* of printing the news can the individual expect to win compensation• through the courts.


NEW WORDS

libel li' 1»1

defamatory dl fam· ~ t6r e

plaintiff plan' ttf

canard ~nArd'

deprecate dep· D kit

1. The mayor vehemently* denied there was any antipathy* between the governor and himself and blamed this on their political opponents.

2. I resent your remark that depicts• me as a culprit. •

3. The egregious• calumny* of the defendant worked to the advantage of the

4. Publishers of newspapers and magazines augment• their staff with lawyers to represent them when they are sued for ____ _

5. The cynic* will the motives of anyone who tries to ameliorate• the iniquities• in our society.

Definitions Study these carefully for the fine differences in meaning.

6. libel (n.)

7. defamatory

8. plaintiff

9. canard

10. deprecate

a. express disapproval

b. the complaining party, in law

c. degradation by writing or publishing

d. damaging character by false reports

e. a made-up sensational story

TODAY'S IDIOM

a pretty kettle of fish-a messy situation, a problem

He knew that when he attacked the sacred c.ow- he would be in a pretty kettle of ftsh. (Do you remember this idiom? It was used earlier in the book and should be familiar.)


NEw WoRDS

reputed ri pyQ' tid

frail frcil

potent pat' nt

excoriate ek skor' eat

devout di vout'


A PHILOSOPHER FOR OUR TIME Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher who is reputed to be the forerunner of the current vogue• of existentialism. In appearance he was a frail and ungainly man. An extremely erudite* thinker and writer, he was a potent force in propagating• the new approach to life. His philosophy would excoriate those who believed that man could stand aside from life. In his philosophy it is a heresy• to take a detached point of view; it is incumbent• upon the individual to get involved. What is germane• is not that we exist, but that our existence is determined by our acts. He was a religiously devout man who feiVidly* believed that the individual is always paramount. •


1. Even though she was piqued* at his indolent• manner, it was pathetic* to listen to her him in public.

2. His awesome* mental dexterity* compensated* for his ______ physical condition.

3. When Ben's muscles began to atrophy, • the doctor initiated* therapy* with a ______ new drug.

4. The drug is ______ to have a salubrious• effect on nascent* conditions of this type.

5. Although he was a ______ adherent* of the party, he remained aloof* during the vitriolic* primary campaign.


6. reputed a. thought, supposed, believed

7. frail b. religious, sincere

8. potent c. delicate, weak

9. excoriate d. criticize severely

10. devout e. powerful, strong, intense

TODAY'S IDIOM

to toe the mark-to obey or stick to a rule or policy

He wanted to kick over the traces, • but his parents made him toe the mark.



THE ISLAND OF WILD DOGS The saga• of the introduction of that diminutive song bird, the canary, into the homes of the world as tame pets is an interesting one. In the sixteenth century a trading ship going to Italy stopped at an island named "Canis," from the Latin word for wild dog, which could be found there in profuse numbers, off the coast of Mrica. The dulcet song of the wild birds whetted* the interest of the captain. In impromptu cages hundreds were taken aboard to be traded. The sailors called these gray-green birds, spotted with yellow, "canaries." As they approached the island of Elba, near Italy, a malevolent storm put the boat in jeopardy* of sinking. A member of the crew released the birds, and the intrepid* canaries instinctively flew towards land. The peasants on Elba took the wild canaries in as pets. Eventually, the birds found their way into homes throughout Europe where they were domesticated and bred for variety of song and shades of colors. The canaries prevalent• today differ greatly from the ones discovered over four hundred years ago.


NEw WoRDS

diminutive d~ min· y~ tlv

profuse prn fytis'

dulcet dul' sit

impromptu lm promp' tii

malevolent m~ lev'~ l~nt

1. As the music reached a frenetic* tempo, the audience lost all decorum* and broke into dancing.

2. He had no qualms* about opposing the clique• who insidiously* exerted a ______ influence on the president.

3. The connoisseur* was able to glean* a worthwhile painting from the _____ _ variety of poor ones at the exhibit.

4. Europeans drive cars because their narrow roads and high prices for gasoline are not conducive• to or compatible* with our large ones.

5. The blase devotee• of the opera was awakened from his ennui* by the ______ tones of the new soprano.


6. diminutive

7. profuse

8. dulcet

9. impromptu

10. malevolent

a. ill-disposed, ill-intentioned

b. tiny, small

c. spur of the moment, offhand

d. sweet or melodious to the ear

e. overflowing, abundant

TODAY'S IDIOM

to be under a cloud-to be in temporary disgrace or trouble

Until they discovered the real thief, he was wuler a cloud.



The history, or derivation, of words is called "etymology." This is a fascinating study and it gives insight to the background of words such as "canary," and thousands of others. Knowing the history of a word helps you remember it.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. canard a. flood 2. carnage b. express disapproval 3. defamatory c. intense, strong, powerful 4. deluge d. sincere, religious 5. deprecate e. sweet or melodious to the ear 6. devout f. abundant, overflowing 7. diminutive g. slaughter 8. dulcet h. uselessness 9. excoriate i. criticize severely

10. frail j. damaging character by false reports 11. futility k. a made-up sensational story 12. impromptu I. small, tiny 13. libel m. cancel, abolish 14. malevolent n. ill-disposed, ill-intentioned 15. nullify o. weak, delicate 16. plaintiff p. the complaining party, in law 17. potent q. applied science 18. profuse r. believed, thought. supposed 19. reputed s. offhand, spur of the moment 20. technology t. degradation by writing or publishing

IDIOMS 21. a pretty kettle of fish u. to be in temporary disgrace or trouble 22. to be under a cloud 23. to toe the mark 24. to build upon sand


274

v. to obey or stick to a rule or policy w. a messy situation, a problem x. to have a poor base, or not sufficient preparation


1. ----------------

2. ----------------

3. ----------------

MEANINGS

SENSIBLE SENTENCES? (From Weeks 41-44)


1. The station's switchboard was (deluged, deprecated) by phone calls when the popular soap opera was cancelled.

2. The (diminutive, frail) ballplayer proved that size doesn't matter in some sports.

3. Peter was surprised when his normally nervous boss seemed so (blase, alooj) about the bad financial news.

4. Our mouths began to water when the (dulcet. succulent) dish was set upon the table.

5. Coming from a small city in Costa Rica, Ligia was not used to the (potent, frenetic) pace of life in Boston.

6. With (bogus, insidious) identification papers, the terrorists attempted to board the waiting airplane.

7. When the time came for Lisa to select a subject to major in, she found herself in a (quandry, potpourri).

8. The (malevolent, benevolent) dictator was generally beloved by his people even though he limited their freedoms.

9. Only a (negligible, manifest) amount of gas escaped from the laboratory during the experiment.

1 0. The president of the School Board intended to (excoriate, nullify) the parents at the opening meeting.


WORDSEARCH 44

276


Reprieve for Wolves

One of the most difficult problems to resolve has to do with the conflicting

interests of environmentalists and profit-making businesses. Examples of this

dilemma appear frequently. While the dispute about cutting down a forest to

preserve owls has been in the news, there appeared another conflict in the state

of Alaska. Hoping to increase the number of tourists who seek to hunt deer and

caribou, the State of Alaska ordered the killing of some of theCD ...;.. ___ _

number of wolves who prey on those animals.

This resulted in a ® of letters and articles condemning the

® that would result from the anti-wolf policy. So, once again, the

environmentalists, who maintain that the natural balance should not be

interfered with, ran up against the Alaskan tourist industry. which wants to

attract hunters who will increase the state's revenue. Mter much publicity

about the wolf hunt and articles that tended to @ this policy, Alaska

decided to ®=s ____ the proposed action.

Clues

CD 4th Day

@ 1st Day

@ 1st Day

@ 3rd Day

® 1st Day



wistful wist'' r~•

IN DAYS OF YORE raiment

ni' rmnt

Current novels are replete• with lurid* climes, carnage• and death. Do you get wisiful when you recall the romantic tales that begin with an innocent maiden travelling through the rustle* countryside? She is dressed in glittering raiment. The scene is idyllic. • Without warning, the group is set upon by a virile* brigand, who, in the most perfunctmy• and callous• fashion, carries her off. Pandemonium* results! Her entourage• is in a state of bedlam. • Her corpulent escort is irate•, but unable to do anything to thwart* this debacle. • All he can do is rail against the catastrophe. What to do? What to do?

brigand brig' ~nd

corpulent kor' p~ ~nt


1. The potpourri* of au courant* fashionable ______ includes the fatuous• and the discreet. •

2. While all disgruntled* men may against malevolent• or Machiavellian* leaders, democracy offers a way to ameliorate• iniquities• through the ballot.

3. Is there any veracity* in the platitude* that ______ men are jocose?*

4. To be candid,* there is little to be about in the "good old days."

5. They captured the ______ , and he was incarcerated* for a mandatocy* period.


6. wistful a. dress, clothing

7. raiment b. scold, use abusive language

8. brigand c. longing, pensive,• wishful

9. corpulent d. robber, bandit

10. rail (v.) e. fleshy, obese, • excessively fat

TODAY'S IDIOM

to flog a dead horse-to continue to make an issue of something that is over

He thought he could keep the pot boiling* about his opponent's winking at• clime, but he was .flogging a dead horse.


rail nil

277


raconteur rak· on ter·

sullen sur~n

rift lift

emissary em'~ ser' e ruminate rii' m~ nat

WOE IS ME! The raconteur of our stocy about idyllic* times gone by goes on to elucidate* how the comely* heroine is taken to the bandits' hideout. There, a sullen crew of cutthroats is gathered. They don't wish to procrastinate;* she must be taken immediately to a foreign land where much treasure will be paid for her. Their cupidity* knows no bounds. The leader wants to hold her for ransom from her wealthy parents. The gang demurs;* they are reticent.* There is a rift among the criminals. Their leader remains truculent,* and they agree to wait for just two days for the ransom money. An emisswy from the griefstricken parents is expected at any moment. The wan* maiden, her spirits at their nadir,* has time to ruminate about her lugubrious* fate.


1. He alluded* to the caused in the school by the plethora* of hirsute* boys who ignored the criterion* for appearance.

2. Well known as a(n) , he was never chagrined* when asked to tell a stocy from his large repertoire.*

3. Despite all attempts to mollify* her, she remained about the levity* caused by her slovenly• raiment.*

4. The obscure* countcy, an aspirant• for membership in the United Nations, sent a(n)

5. An anomaly* of our modern technology* is that the more we need to know, the less time we have to _____ _


6. raconteur a. ill-humored, grim

7. sullen

8. rift

9. emissacy

1 0. ruminate

278

b. ponder, reflect upon

c. a skilled stocyteller

d. a split, an opening

e. an agent

TODAY'S IDIOM

the die is cast-an unchangeable decision has been made

The fat was in the fire* and the die was cast when he decided to tell the white lie about how he had found the money.



TO THE RESCUE Back at the castle, the situation is taut with emotion. The fair maiden's mother is livid with fear and anxiety; she has attacks of vertigo. • She talks about her daughter's audacity* in riding out into the ominous• forests despite many similar ktdnappings. The girl's father, a martinet who rules his family with an iron hand, staunchly* refuses to pay the ransom. Iniquity* shall not be rewarded! At this moment of crisis a heroic knight volunteers to rescue our heroine; he has had a secret yen for the young beauty. Avoiding rhetoric, • he pledges his all to castigate• those responsible for this tgnomtntous• deed. He holds his life as a mere bagatelle against the duty he owes his beloved mistress. At the propitious• moment, he rides off to do or die for her.


NEW WORDS

taut tot

livid liv' id

martinet mArt' net'

yen yen

bagatelle bag·~ tel'

1. The rabid* baseball fan lost his equanimity* and became ______ when the star pitcher became pugnacious• and was removed from the game.

2. There was a international situation caused by the proximity* of unidentified submarines to our coasts.

3. When one enlists in the army, one expects to be under the aegis* of a _____ _

4. His for imbibing• and romping• with girls worked to his detriment•.

5. The little boy tried to wheedle* a larger allowance from his father by the caustic* observations that it was a mere when compared to the allowances of his friends.


6. taut

7. livid

8. martinet

9. yen

1 0. bagatelle


a. strict disciplinarian

b. tense, keyed up, on edge

c. pale

d. a trifle

e. strong desire, strong longing

TODAY'S IDIOM

a eat's paw-a person used as a tool or dupe* The spy used the innocent girl as a eat's paw to

get milita.Iy information from the grapevine.*

279

NEW WORDS

callow kar a

appalled Cl potd·

penchant pen· ch~nt

decapitate di kap · O:l tat

termagant ter· m~ g~nt


WELL DONE, SIR KNIGHT! Seeking his adversaries,* the knight rides to their hideout. Despite his callow appearance, he is reputed* to disdain* danger and to be a prodigious* horseman. The kidnappers lose their equanimity* at his approach. They are appalled at the prospect, and they are in a quandary* as to which one will meet him on the field of combat. The leader, under duress,* rides out. "Do you have a penchantto die?" derides* the knight. More vituperative* remarks follow. They spur their horses toward each other. It takes but one blow for our hero to decapitate the villain. The others flee to avoid their imminent* destruction. The knight takes the maiden on his horse, and they ride back to the castle. Their wedding soon follows. Little does the knight realize that the fair maiden is a garrulous* termagant who will make his life miserable with caustic* remarks. Still, the cliche,* "And they lived happily ever after," must conclude our fabricated* tale.


1. We do not ______ criminals because of our aversion* to such repugnant* punishments.

2. I do not wish to deprecate* your ______ for cowboy music, but I find it banal.*

3. Why do you remain docile* while that ______ besmirches, maligns* and belittles* you?

4. Each long holiday weekend we are at the carnage* on our highways.

5. It was deplorable* the way the capricious* girl led the youth on a merry chase.


6. callow a. youthful, inexperienced

7. appalled b. behead

8. penchant c. a strong leaning in favor

9. decapitate d. a scolding woman, a shrew

10. termagant e. dismayed, shocked

TODAY'S IDIOM

coup de grace--the finishing stroke When my girlfriend left me, it was a bitter pill to swallow,*

but the coup de grdce was that she kept my engagement ling.



Language grows and changes. In "days of yore" there were not nearly as many words in our language as we have today. Within the next 50 years hundreds of new words will be added. Educated and alert individuals make new words part of their vocabulary as quickly as they come into accepted use.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. appalled a. 2. bagatelle b. 3. brigand c. 4. callow d. 5. corpulent e. 6. decapitate f. 7. emissary g. 8. livid h. 9. martinet i.

1 0. penchant j. 11. raconteur k. 12. rail I. 13. raiment m. 14. rift n. 15. ruminate o. 16. sullen P· 17. taut q. 18. termagant r. 19. wistful s. 20. yen t.

IDIOMS 21. a eat's paw 22. the die is cast 23. coup de grace

24. to flog a dead horse


behead shocked, dismayed pale a trifle bandit, robber an agent grim, ill-humored clothing, dress on edge, keyed up, tense strict disciplinarian wishful, pensive,* longing a strong leaning in favor an opening, a split a skilled storyteller inexperienced, youthful excessively fat, fleshy, obese* reflect upon, ponder a shrew, a scolding woman use abusive language, scold strong desire, strong longing

u. the finishing stroke v. an unchangeable decision has been made w. to continue to make an issue of something

that is over x. a person used as a tool or dupe


1. ----------------

2. ----------------

3. ----------------

MEANINGS

281

WORDSEARCH 45

282


Henry VIII and British History

Students in the United States should consider themselves lucky when it

comes to studying the country's history. The United States has been a nation

for approximately 225 years. We would be CD if we had to learn as

much history as students in Great Britain, for their history goes back some

1,000 years! In that time England has had many interesting and unusual

rulers. One who has fascinated us is Heruy VIII. Ruling some 450 years ago. he

became well known because of his many marriages and his ® for

doing away with some wives who displeased him.

In physical appearance he was unattractive-he was large and ....;;;.® ___ _

When his first wife could not bear him a son who would be heir to the throne,

he divorced her. This caused a break with the Pope who refused to recognize

the divorce. Henry VIII sent an @ to the Pope and renounced

Catholicism. He then married Anne Boleyn but decided to ® her

after quickly tiring of her. His third wife died in childbirth, and he divorced

his fourth. His fifth, Katherine Howard, was also beheaded. Only his sixth

wife was able to live on after Henry's death in 154 7. From this brief history

of only one English ruler. it is easy to imagine how much an English history

student must learn in order to prepare for an exam. In Henry VIII's case. one

would have to get a "head start."

Clues

CD 4th Day

@ 4th Day

® 1st Day

@ 2nd Day

® 4th Day



A MIGHTY EMPIRE One of the anomalies* of our approach to history is the propensity* to study the venerable* empires of Europe, but we do not feel it incumbent* upon us to ascertain anything about the civilizations in our own hemisphere. We deprecate* the history of this part of the world as though progress lay dormant and that other peoples were irrelevant* until the settlers of North America arrived at Plymouth Rock. In South America, from 2000 B.c. until their empire reached its acme* at the beginning of the 16th century, lived the Incas. The site* of the capital city of the Inca empire, Cusco, lay at a height of 11,000 feet. This civilization is reputed* to have burgeoned until it covered more than 2,500 miles of the western part of the continent. Its population fluctuated* between 4 and 7 million. This empire had a highly efficacious* political and social system. Its potentate ruled with absolute power. As the empire conquered new lands, it would disseminate its language, religion, and social customs.


1. While some moribund* economies atrophied* after World War II, others ______ under the salubrious* effects of loans from the U.S.

NIEW WORDS

ascertain as' ~r t:an·

dormant dOr' rmnt

burgeoned ber' J~nd

potentate pot' n tat

disseminate di sem' ~nat

2. In order to the relationship between his girlfriend and his brother, he kept a wary* and discreet* vigil. •

3. We are quick to calumny,* but reticent* about things that may be construed* as compliments.

4. He was appalled* at the apathy* concerning the important issue that had remained ______ for so long a time.

5. The callous* kept an imperturbable* mien* when requested to alleviate• the unconscionable* conditions existing in his land.


6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

ascertain a. spread, scatter dormant b. discover, fmd out about burgeoned c. resting, asleep potentate d. flourished, grew disseminate e. ruler

TODAY'S IDIOM

straight from the shoulder-in a direct, open way

I took the wind out of his sails* by telling him straight from the shoulder that I was not going to wink at* his apple polishing. •


NEw WoRDS

derived di rivd·

prerogative pri rog· e1 tiv

nepotism nep· e1 tiz e1m

dearth derth

internecine in' te1r ne· sn


A BATTLE FOR POWER The Inca emperor derived his prodigious* power and authority from the gods. The paramount* god was the sun god. It was from him the ruler passed on his prerogative to rule to his most astute* son. This nepotism had worked with great efficacy* for centuries. The land holdings were immense;* there were rich farmlands and llamas and alpacas for wool. Precious metals were plentiful: silver, copper, bronze, and the most sacred of all, gold. This metal resembled the sun god whom they extolled.* There was no dearth of idols and ornaments hammered from this gleaming metal. There was always more gold coming from the mines to replenish* the supply. At the acme* of his power, the Inca ruler died without naming the requisite* successor. In 1493 two sons began an internecine struggle for control. For the next 40 years the empire sank into the lassitude* caused by civil war.


1. The emissary* from the president tried to allay* the fears that a deleterious* ______ feud was inevitable within the party.

2. A pragmatic* philosopher ______ the theory that we have noses in order to hold up our eyeglasses.

3. Your efforts to ingratiate* yourself into your boss's favor are nullified* by the unmitigated* manifest* in this firm.

4. He gave his adversary* the dubious* ______ of choosing the weapon by which he was to meet his inevitable* end.

5. In the potpourri* of restaurants there is no ______ of succulent• dishes.


6. derived a. scarcity, lack

7. prerogative b. involving conflict within a group, mutually destructive

8. nepotism c. an exclusive right or power

9. dearth d. descended from, received from a source

1 0. internecine e. favoritism toward relatives

TODAY'S IDIOM

to rub a person the wrong- way-to do something that irritates or annoys

The quickest way to rub a person the wrong way is to give him the cold shoulder.*


WEEK 46 •!• DAY J·

A PERFIDIOUS* CONQUEROR The feuding between the rival sons reached its pinnacle* in 1532; at that moment Francisco Pizarro came onto the scene. A native of Spain, he was sojourning* in Panama when he heard of the riches to be found in that far off land. Overwhelmed with cupidity, • but still a tyro when it came to wresting* power and wealth from hapless• people, he joined with an inveterate• adventurer. They gathered a small band of mercenaries. • The first two attempts failed, and Pizarro returned to Spain to request authority and money in order to conquer the West Coast of South America. Whether by sophistry or cajolecy,• he was given the requisite* aid. With a force of 180 men, the dregs• of society, he invaded Inca territocy. He reached the city where the current ruler, Atahualpa, was holding court. The Incas welcomed Pizarro who, in a factitious display of friendship, heaped encomiums upon Atahualpa. Unknown to the Incas, Pizarro had brought guns that were still beyond the technology* of these people. The obloquy of his next act. ambushing the Incas and taking Atahualpa prisoner, will live in the histocy books that are replete• with tales of conquest.


NEW WORDS

tyro tiro

sophistry sofa stre

factitious fak tish· as

encomium en ko' me am

obloquy ob'la kwe

1. Although he was erudite* about a copious• number of things, he was a naive, • callow* when it came to relating to· girls.

2. John Wilkes Booth's egregious• act remains an infamous• _____ _ 3. Her made use of evecy glib* artifice. • 4. In the office he played the role of a martinet, • while at home he

was filled with compassion•. 5. The modest prodigy* treated the fervid* that followed his

performance as though they were a mere bagatelle. •


6. tyro a. high praise 7. sophistry b. beginner, novice 8. factitious c. false reasoning or argument 9. encomium d. sham, artificial

10. obloquy e. disgrace, shame, dishonor

TODAY'S IDIOM

to draw in one"s horns-to become cautious He knew he was out of his depth, • so he drew in his horns and quit the poker game.


NEw WoRDS

hyperbole hi p~ r· ba le

munificent myO nif a sant

prevarication pri var· a ka· shen

charisma ka riz' rna

genocide jen· a sid


THE END OF AN EMPIRE The Machiavellian* Pizarro held the captured Atahualpa for ransom. He was adamant* about receiving a room filled with gold to the height of a man's shoulder. This was taken as a hyperbole at first, but Pizarro knew the gullible* Incas would be munificent when it came to rescuing their sacred ruler. They did not procrastinate,* and a frenetic* collection of gold took place. Pizarro, to whom prevaricatiort* was natural in dealing with the Incas, had no qualms* about executing their ruler as soon as he had the gold. The Inca empire was moribund,* but the charisma that surrounded Atahualpa was such that, after his death, the Incas fought on tenaciously* in his name for several years. Eventually, superior weapons quelled* all opposition. A policy of genocide was adopted by the Spanish conquerors, and almost two million of these proud people died in the carnage* that followed. The saga* of an ancient civilization thus came to an end.


1. Even those who were not fans of the movie star candidly* admit the _____ _ that surrounded him.

2. The United Nations has outlawed ______ as the ultimate* crime, which must be eradicated.*

3. Her constant made her a par1ah* to her friends. 4. The rhetoric* soared into flagrant* _____ _

5. He was surprised by the gratuity* given by the usually parsimonious* termagant.*

Definitions Match the new words with their defimtions.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

286

hyperbole a. quality of leadership inspiring enthusiasm

munificent b. planned destruction of an entire people

prevarication c. deviation from the truth, lying

charisma d. generous

genocide e. exaggerated figure of speech

TODAY'S IDIOM

to throw cold water-to discourage a plan or idea

I was going to pull up stakes* and move out lock, stock, and barrel,* but my wife threw cold water on the whole thing.



This is your last week. At this point you have worked with over 1100 of the most useful words and idioms in our language. The fmcu review test will gtve you some idea of how well you have mastered them. From time to ti1r1e you should re-read sections of this book to refresh your memory. Remember, keep learning new words at every opportunity!

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. ascertain a. lack, scarcity 2. burgeoned b. favoritism towards relatives 3. charisma c. novice, beginner 4. dearth d. artificial, sham 5. derived e. lying, deviation from the truth 6. disseminate f. ruler 7. dormant g. scatter, spread · 8. encomium h. an exclusive power or right 9. factitious i. dishonor, disgrace, shame

1 0. genocide j. high praise 11. hyperbole k. quality of leadership inspiring enthusiasm 12. internecine I. asleep, resting 13. munificent m. grew, flourished 14. nepotism n. planned destruction of an entire people 15. obloquy o. false reasoning or argument 16. potentate p. mutually destructive, involving conflict in a group 17. prerogative q. received from a source, descended from 18. prevarication r. generous 19. sophistry s. exaggerated figure of speech 20. tyro t. find out about, discover

IDIOMS 21. to draw in one's horns u. in a direct, open way 22. straight from the shoulder v. to discourage a plan or idea 23. to throw cold water w. to become cautious 24. to rub a person the wrong way x. to do something to irritate or annoy



1. ------------------

2. ------------------

3. ------------------

MEANINGS

287

WHICH WORD COMES TO MIND? (From Weeks 45-46)

288

•:• Write the letter of the vocabulary word in the space adjacent to the sentence or phrase that brings it to mind.

a. appalled b. brigand c. yen d. tyro e. corpulent f. prerogative g. genocide h. nepotism i. potentate j. dearth k. livid I. decapitate m. prevarication n. raconteur o. taut p. internecine

1. "Hiring your nephew, eh?"

2. "All hail the sultan!"

3. "I just looked in the mirror; tomorrow we start our diet."

4. The descent of the guillotine

5. "I have a strong desire to own Japanese currency."

6. George Washington to his father: "I cannot tell a lie."

7. Now showing: The Pirates of Penzance

8. Best storyteller in town

9. The Civil War

10. "He claims to have the right to change his mind."


WORDSEARCH 46


Word~ Word~ Words

You have been strengthening and building a basic vocabulary as you have

progressed through this book. The tests, quizzes, and exercises have helped

you Q) how fa:r you· have advanced. We hope you have come to the end

of 11 00 Words You Need to Know with a command of vocabulary that has

® from week to week. Your interest and attention have paid off in

many ways. You have ® pleasure and knowledge from reading

passages on varied topics. You are better equipped to read, study, converse,

and write with confidence.

The objectives that started you working on building your vocabulary should

not now become @ . A permanent desire to master new words

should be an added value obtained from this book. We hope that any

® you receive for your command of English vocabulary will spur

you on to more and greater mastery of words you need to know.

Clues

CD 1st Day

® 1st Day

@ 2nd Day

@ 1st Day

® 3rd Day


BURIED WORDS (From Week 1-46)

•!• Locate the word being defined from the review words of the week indicated. Then find the embedded word that fits the definition (e.g .. the answer to the first example is automaton. which contains the "buried" word tomato).

REVIEW WORD

1st Week: machine that behaves like a person unending

2nd Week: to use lively gestures basic, elementary

3rd Week: expression of sympathy lacking brightness

4th Week: able to be touched publish

5th Week: exemption shortage

6th Week: contrary dread, dismay

7th Week: to end relentless, unappeasable

Blil Week: forerunner distant

9th Week: harmful followers

10th Week: read carefully appropriate

11th Week: to pass by confirm

290

BURIED WORD

a common vegetable a fixed limit. definite period of time

a twitching of face muscles a small part of a dollar

a small portion, gratuity a strong passion

a sharp taste a school dance

a joke, play on words a large community

a part of a poem or song rear end of a boat

school semester a heavy rope or chain

a drunken carousal. spree give expression to feelings

a regulation anger

a trick foreign

part of a church to enter and steal


REVIEW WORD 12th Week:

bitter criticism perfection

13th Week: undeniable in an early stage

14th Week: soft job to strive for

15th Week: debatable an associate in crime

16th Week: exact opposite protection

17th Week: perfect, complete spread out in battle formation

18th Week: polished, civilized going from place to place

19th Week: lavish agree to finance

20th Week: very sad moderate in eating or drinking

21st Week: descendant

decay

22nd Week: relieve without curing related to marriage

23rd Week: serving to pay back unusual occurrence


BURIED WORDS

BURIED WORD

part of the body mathematical term

open to view unit of measurement

a function in trigonometry a venomous serpent

something found, a collection parasitic insects

a tax military conflict

total a tactic to frustrate or embarrass

an opponent

destructive or ruinous thing prong of a fork

a low place to collect water formal or religious practice

drag, move heavily stop, hold back

an electrically charged part of an atom or molecule

a vulgar person, a heel

cease to please, a cloud the core or point

an outlaw, a political conservative a prophetic sign

291

BURIED WORDS


unwise looking down on someone or something

25th Week: trembling. shaking with old age hurt, damage, injury

26th Week: foremost. supreme angry. antagonistic

27th Week: hesitate, waver. stumble inflexible. unyielding

28th Week: hinder. interfere, block uproar. confusion

29th Week: lack of interest difficult to describe, undistinguished

30th Week: slander. abuse persuade. coax. cajole

31st Week: rough. harsh, shrill harmful. bad

32nd Week: out-of-date pardon, excuse

33rd Week: momentary. passing, fleeting self-satisfied

34th Week: facial expression of disgust spacious, large

35th Week: a moralistic story haggard. thin

292

BURIED WORD

an overly modest person entice. attract. allure

strange reduce by cutting. decorate

a valley (poetical) steps over a fence

change. vary. transform an obstruction

mischievous child false. cheap imitation

walkway style of writing

to arrange in line pay attention

three-pronged instrument take out, remove

a bowlike curve or structure to put on as a garment

thin plate giving wind direction fine thread sewn in patterns

a spice. a club carried by an official disgusting. distasteful

can be cultivated female relative



zenith, pinnacle. peak wish, envy, want

37th Week: temporary stay beginning, to develop or exist

38th Week: easy to manage underhandedness, trickery

39th Week: unreasonable, without conscience abuse, blame

40th Week: works that an artist is ready to perform weakness. weariness

41st Week: slogan, pet phrase rush, flood

42nd Week: requirement change, variety

43rd Week: waste away desire to make amends, regret

44th Week: ill-disposed, ill-intentioned abundant. overflowing

45th Week: strong desire, strong longing inexperienced, youthful

46th Week: artificial, sham mutually destructive, conflict within

a group


BURIED WORDS

BURIED WORD

a large book or volume a small bay

a round vase the act of going up

a shaded walk stylish. elegant

child, or descendant to give out in measured amounts

forward, free, saucy a young woman

trunk of a tree the top of the head

locale, position plunge into

a memento of victory or success closely confined

a brewed beverage to blend by melting

to delight, fascinate, charm to permit

perform, behave to shut up, confine

293

WORDS IN CONTEXT

•!• Complete the passage by filling in the missing words. Select the correct word from the four given and insert the corresponding letter in the blank.

With the 1. of the 1V computerized games, many set owners have become 2.

in trying to outwit the electronic toys. The 3. finds it almost impossible to react quickly

enough. Before he or she can 4. what is going on, the little lights have sped by. Those

who have a 5. for thinking and reacting quickly find these games a 6.

problem. While the experts' behavior appears 7. , they really are 8.

9. . If one is 10. about trying again and again, then the 11.

computer games can be mastered.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. 6.

7.

8.

9. 10. 11.

(a) rhetoric (a) reticent (a) wary

(a) ascertain (a) lassitude (a) perverse

(a) conjugal (a) connubial (a) aloof (a) bogus

(a) effigy

(b) prelude (b) engrossed (b) tyro (b) obviate (b) pall (b) negligible

(b) frenetic (b) brash (b) affluent (b) elusive (b) malady

(c) advent (c) slovenly (c) profuse (c) deem

(c) legerdemain

(c) lugubrious (c) devout (c) facile (c) overt (c) tenacious (c) paroxysm

(d) retrospect (d) trivial

(d) deplorable (d) cajole (d) penchant (d) glib (d) ambiguous (d) blunt (d) imperturbable (d) pecuniary (d) repertoire

and

of1V

It is 12. that women have 13. into fields of work that were, until recently, the

14. of men. It did not happen because of the 15. of the males, but it was largely

due to the 16. insistence by women that they occupy their rightful place in our society.

While some men still 17. women who seek to fill jobs previously closed to them, others

take the 18. view that the only 19. for women should be their ability to do the

work, and that 20. obstacles have no place in a democracy.

12. (a) unctuous (b) voluble (c) manifest (d) wistful

13. (a) perpetuated (b) burgeoned (c) advocated (d) spewed 14. (a) acme (b) taboo (c) antipathy (d) prerogative 15. (a) largess (b) ultimate (c) complicity (d) avarice 16. (a) pernicious (b) tenacious (c) ostensible (d) phlegmatic 17. (a) deprecate (b) aspire (c) permeate (d) covet 18. (a) discreet (b) pragmatic (c) precocious (d) rash

19. (a) remuneration (b) reproach (c) duplicity (d) criterion

20. (a) puissant (b) sporadic (c) capricious (d) zealous


ANSWERS

•!• WEEK 1 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day4

1. replete 6. d 1. prognosticate 6. d 1. compounded 6. b 1. drudgery 6. e 2. eminent 7. c 2. automatons 7. b 2. annals 7. e 2. badgers or 7. c 3. steeped 8. a 3. matron 8. e 3. paradoxes 8. d badgered 8. a 4. voracious 9. e 4.abound 9. c 4. tinge 9. c 3. perceives or 9. b 5. indiscriminate 10. b 5. technology 10. a 5. realm 10. a perceived 10. d

4. implored 5. interminable

Day 5

REVIEW SENSIBLE SENTENCES? WORDSEARCH 1

1. n 7. i 13. p 19. k 1. voracious 2. o 8. h 14. b 20. m 2. interminable

1. annals 2. replete

3. r 9. e 15. c 21. v 3. tinge 3. matron 4. d 10. t 16. q 22. u 4. realm 5. g 11. j 17. a 23. w 5. eminent 6. l 12. s 18. f 24. x 6. abound

4. implore 5. interminable

7. perceive 8. badgers 9. automatons

10. technology 11. yes 12. yes 13. yes 14. yes

•!• WEEK 2 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

1. laconic 6. a 1. hapless 6. e 1. vigilant 6. c 1. rudimentary 6. a 2. accost 7. d 2. irate 7. b 2. adroit 7. a 2. cajoled 7. c 3. reticent 8. b 3. furtive 8. d 3. fabricate 8. b 3. enhance 8. e 4. throng. 9. c 4. plethora 9. c 4. pretext 9. e 4. nuance 9. d 5. intrepid 10. e 5. felon 10. a 5. gesticulate 10. d 5. avid 10. b

Day 5

REVIEW WORDSEARCH 2

1. f 7. k 13. o 19. n 1. felon 2. 1 8. r 14. q 20. c 3. b 9. p 15. d 21. X

4. s 10. h 16. g 22. u 5. t 11. e 17. a 23. v

2. pretext 3. cajole 4. fabricate 5. vigilant

6. m 12. i 18. k 24. w

295

ANSWERS

·:· WEEK]

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

1. wrest 6. b 1. incipient 6. a 1. ominous 6.d 1. stipulate 6. b 2. lackluster 7. e 2. infamous 7. c 2. repudiate 7. e 2. euphemism 7. a 3. caustic 8.a 3. dupe 8.d 3. bristle 8. b 3. condolence 8. d 4.loathe 9. c 4. jostle 9. b 4. tremulous 9. a 4. mundane 9. e 5. reprimand . 10. d 5. inadvertent 10. e 5. cessation 10.c 5. incongruous 10. c

Day 5

REVIEW WORDSEARCH 3

1. g 7. j 13. a 19. f 1. cessation 2. h 8. e 14. i 20. p 2. wrest 3. d 9. q 15. b 21. v 3. infamous 4. n 10. c 16. 0 22. w 4. bristle 5. m 11. 1 17. r 23. u 5. caustic 6. t 12. s 18. k 24. X

·:· WEEK4


1. intimidate 6. e 1. promulgate 6. a 1. laceration 6. a 1. scurrilous 6. c 2. feint 7. a 2. brash 7. e 2. tangible 7.c 2. aspirant 7. e 3. alacrity 8. c 3. scoff 8. d 3. castigate 8. b 3. frenzy 8.a 4. belligerent 9.d 4. pugnacious 9. c 4. octogenarian 9. d 4. dregs 9.d 5. disdain 10. b 5. belittle 10. b 5. sordid 10. e 5. solace 10. b

Day 5


1. t 7. a 13. d 19. s 1. alacrity 6. belligerent 1. aspirant 2. i 8. p 14. f 20. q 2. aspirants 7. belittled 2. sordid 3. j 9. g 15. h 21. w 3. dregs 8. disdain 3. belittle 4. k 10. c 16. e 22. v 4. sordid 9. promulgated 4. scurrilous 5. m 11. b 17. 1 23. X 5. tangible 10. scoff 5. frenzy 6. n 12. r 18.0 24. u

·:· WEEKS


1. rampant 6. e 1. culprit 6. c 1. egregious 6. d 1. impunity 6.d 2. clandestine 7. c 2. inexorable 7. e 2. acrimonious 7. c 2. elicit 7. e 3. ethics 8. b 3. duress 8. b 3. duplicity 8. b 3. tolerate 8. c 4. inane 9.d 4. admonish 9. d 4. paucity 9. e 4. construe 9. b 5. concur 10. a 5. flagrant 10. a 5. distraught 10. a 5. pernicious 10. a

Day 5

REVIEW WORDSEARCH 5

1. t 7. f 13. k 19. d 1. ethics 2. e 8. a 14. m 20. g 2. pernicious 3. p 9. 1 15. c 21. w 3. acrimonious 4. 0 10. j 16. b 22. v 4. culprit s. q 11. h 17. s 23. X 5. flagrant 6. r 12. n 18. i 24. u

296

ANSWERS

·:· WEEK 6 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

1. sally 6. d 1. precocious 6. b 1. laudable 6. a 1. dubious 6. d 2. affluent 7. b 2. perfunctory 7. a 2. disparaged 7. d 2. quell 7. b 3. consternation 8. e 3. deride 8. c 3. masticate 8. e 3. confidant 8. a 4. feasible 9. a 4. perverse 9.d 4. fiasco 9. c 4. obsolescence 9. c 5. discern 10. c 5. chagrin 10. e 5. eschews 10. b 5. voluble 10. e

Day 5

REVIEW WORDSEARCH 6

1. J 7. n 13. c 19. s 1. quell 2. p 8. q 14. t 20. f 2. consternation 3. 0 9. k 15. a 21. v 3. fiasco 4. b 10. g 16. i 22. u 4. discern 5. h 11. d 17. e 23. w 5. laudable 6. I 12. r 18. m 24. X


1. implacable 6. b 1. fray 6. e 1. effigy 6. b 1. terminate 6. c 2. jurisdiction 7. a 2. indigent 7. c 2. stymie 7. e 2. forthwith 7. d 3. paroxysm 8. d 3. arbitrary 8. b 3. cognizant 8. c 3. oust 8. e 4. skirmish 9. e 4. monolithic 9. a 4. flout 9.d 4. revert 9. b 5. reprehensible 10. c 5. harass 10. d 5. turbulent 10. a 5. exacerbate 10. a

Day 5

REVIEW WORDSEARCH 7

1. t 7. c 13. q 19. I 1. skirmish 2. s 8. 0 14. k 20. p 2. turbulent 3. m 9. d 15. f 21. X 3. cognizant 4. J 10. i 16. n 22. w 4. indigent 5. h 11. g 17. r 23. v 5. reprehensible 6. e 12. a 18. b 24. u


1. emaciated 6. d 1. sinister 6. b 1. ubiquitous 6. b 1. excruciating 6. d 2. tranquil 7. a 2. besieged 7. e 2. remote 7. a 2. reverberating 7. a 3. sanctuary 8. c 3. afflicted 8. d 3. harbinger 8. d 3. fretful 8. c 4. surged 9. b 4. malnutrition 9. a 4. thwart 9. e 4. respite 9. b 5. ascend 10. e 5. privation 10.c 5. malignant 10.c 5. succumb 10. e

Day 5

REVIEW SENSIBLE SENTENCES? PARTS OF SPEECH WORDSEARCH 8

1. d 7. k 13. r 19. t 1. afflicted 7. thwarted 1. h 7. d 13. i 1. succumb 2. l 8. q 14. j 20. c 2. succumb 8. ascended 2. e 8. f 14. g. m 2. sanctuary 3. p 9. b 15. h 21. X 3. ubiquitous 9. privations 3. b 9. 0 3. harbinger 4. f 10. a 16. n 22. w 4. malnutrition 10. fretful 4. j 10. k 4. ascend 5. e 11. g 17. 1 23.v 5. tranquil 11. cool our 5. a 11. 1 5. afflict 6. s 12. 0 18. m 24. u 6. reverberating heels 6. c 12. n

297

ANSWERS


1. extortion 6. c 1.-entourage 6. b 1. loath 6. d 1. vexatious 6. c 2. impresarto 7. e 2. virulent 7. a 2. solicit 7. e 2. amicable 7. b 3. bigot 8. b 3. spew 8. e 3. astute 8. a 3. malady 8. e 4. asset 9. d 4. venom 9. c 4. advocate 9. b 4. nefartous 9.a 5. adverse 10. a 5. blatant 10. d 5. ineffectual 10. c 5. scrutinize 10. d

Day 5

REVIEW WORDSEARCH 9

1. 0 7. i 13. s 19. g 1. scrutinize 2. a 8. h 14. d 20. 1 2.vexatious 3. p 9. t 15. j 21. X 3. virulent 4. c 10. f 16. e 22. w 4. astute 5. b 11. m 17. r 23. v 5. nefartous 6. n 12. q 18. k 24. u

•!• WEEK 10 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day4

1. peruse 6. a 1. obsessed 6. b 1. frustrated 6. d 1.imminent 6. b 2. premonition 7. b 2. mastiff 7. e 2. interjected 7. b 2.squeamish 7. a 3. desist 8. d 3. doleful 8. d 3. histrionics 8. e 3. engrossed 8. c 4. recoiled 9. c 4. pertinent 9. a 4. elusive 9. a 4. salient 9. e 5. inclement 10. e 5. wan 10. c 5. symptomatic 10. c 5. inert 10. d

Day 5

REVIEW WORDSEARCH 10

1. d 7. p 13. h 19.g 1. squeamish 2. a 8. f 14. 1 20. r 2. recoil 3. q 9. i 15. 0 21. X 3. engrossed 4. s 10. e 16. b 22.v 4. desist 5. c 11. j 17. k 23. u 5. interject 6. t 12. m 18. n 24. w


1. poignant 6. d 1. phlegmatic 6. b 1. elapse 6. b 1. conjecture 6. e 2. garbled 7. a 2. zealous 7. c 2. sporadic 7. e 2. lurid 7. c 3. fruitless 8. e 3. comprehensive 8.d 3. domicile 8. d 3. rash 8. a 4. inundated 9. b 4. coerced 9.a 4.lax 9. a 4. obviated 9. d 5. sanguine 10. c 5. corroborate 10. e 5. meticulous 10. c 5. quip 10. b

Day 5


l.r 7. d 13. j 19. 0 1. garbled 2.p 8. k 14. g 20. s 2. meticulous 3. l 9.a 15. c 21. X 3. inundate 4. f 10. n 16. t 22. w 4. comprehensive 5. b 11. h 17. e 23. u 5. sanguine 6. m 12. q 18. i 24.v

298

ANSWERS


1. diatrtbe 6. d 1. placard 6. e 1. utopia 6. d 1. truncated 6. a 2.ilk 7. e 2. prestigious 7. b 2. schism 7. e 2. jaunty 7. b 3. incoherent 8. c 3. remuneration 8. a 3. anathema 8. b 3. ostentatious 8. c 4. fortuitous 9. b 4. nominal 9.d 4. flamboyant 9.a 4. timorous 9. e 5. inhibitions 10. a 5. integral 10. c 5. expunge 10. c 5. fractious 10. d

Day 5


l.k 7. c 13. r 19. 0 1. diatrtbe 7. expunged 1. prestigious 2. I 8. e 14. d 20. t 2. utopia 8. fortuitous 2. flamboyant 3. m 9. i 15. a 21. u 3. ostentatious 9. integral 3. ilk 4. n 10. p 16. j 22. X 4. timorous 1 0. placards 4. inhibitions 5. g 11. f 17. s 23. w 5. prestigious 11. wash your dirty 5. remuneration 6. b 12. h 18. q 24. v 6. jaunty linen in public


1. importune 6. b 1. eventuated 6. b 1. premise 6. e 1. curtailed 6. b 2. haven 7. a 2. subterranean 7. e 2. incredulous 7. b 2. cryptic 7.d 3. subjugate 8. e 3. emit 8. d 3. jeopardize 8. d 3. repress 8. c 4. surreptitious 9. d 4. ultimate 9.a 4. permeated 9. c 4. surmised 9. a 5. incontrovertible 10. c 5. viable 10. c 5. propitious 10. a 5. inchoate 10. e

Day 5


l.s 7. r 13. f 19. j 1. cryptic 2. g 8. b 14. e 20. h 2. importune 3. t 9. q 15. m 21. X 3. ultimate 4. k 10. 0 16. i 22. w 4. viable 5. n 11. I 17. c 23. v 5. incredulous 6. a 12. p 18. d 24. u


1. nettle 6. d 1. supine 6. d 1. incisive 6. d 1. sinecure 6. e 2. aspire 7. e 2. razed 7. c 2. scurry 7. b 2. stentortan 7. d 3. inveigh 8. a 3. repulse 8. b 3. lethal 8. a 3. valor 8. c 4. overt 9. b 4. mammoth 9.a 4. precipitated 9. e 4. singular 9. a 5. relegate 10. c 5. havoc 10. e 5. stereotype 10. c 5. bias 10. b

Day 5


1. d 7. a 13. n 19. 0 1. nettled 2. h 8. r 14. J 20. c 2. inveighed 3. s 9. b 15. g 21. X 3. stereotype 4. i 10. k 16. l 22.v 4. bias 5. m 11. p 17. t 23. u 5. scurry 6. f 12. e 18. q 24. w

299

ANSWERS


1. complicity 6. b 1. preclude 6. e 1. extrinsic 6. d 1. nomadic 6. b 2. liquidation 7. d 2. alleged 7. b 2. persevere 7. e 2. paragon 7. c 3. culpable 8. c 3. abrogate 8. a 3. landmark 8. b 3. controversial 8. a 4. recant 9. e 4. invalidate 9. c 4. declaim 9. c 4. asperity 9. e 5. accomplice 10. a 5. access 10. d 5. fetter 10. a 5. epithets 10. d

Day 5


1.j 7. t 13. n 19. k 1. abrogate 2.q 8. d 14. s 20. 0 2. culpable 3. f 9. 1 15. e 21. v 3. epithets 4. c 10. a 16. r 22. w 4. recant 5. h 11. b 17.g 23. X 5. controversial 6. m 12. p 18. i 24. u


1. cursory 6. b 1. prolific 6. a 1. cache 6. b 1. amorous 6. e 2. indigenous 7. d 2. antithesis 7. c 2. cupidity 7. d 2. virtuosity 7. d 3. interloper 8. c 3. sedentary 8. e 3. altruistic 8. a 3. progeny 8. b 4. habitat 9.a 4. frugal 9. b 4. coterie 9. c 4. temerity 9. a 5. gregarious 10. e 5. bulwark 10. d 5. embellish 10. e 5. saturated 10. c

Day 5


1. f 7. h 13. 1 19. 0 1. frugal 2. r 8. i 14. k 20. s 2. cache 3.d 9. e 15. j 21. u 3. interloper 4.q 10. b 16. t 22. X 4. temerity 5. a 11. c 17. p 23. w 5. cupidity 6.g 12. n 18. m 24. v


1. fallacious 6. c 1. manifold 6. c 1. hoax 6. a 1. gullible 6. e 2. consummate 7. b 2. fraught 7. d 2. components 7. b 2. deploy 7. a 3. concoct 8. d 3. impeccable 8. b 3. labyrinth 8. c 3. attest 8. b 4. perpetrate 9.a 4. resourceful 9. e 4. evaluate 9. d 4. exult 9. c 5. subterfuge 10. e 5. assiduous 10. a 5. murky 10. e 5. enigma 10. d

Day 5


1.c 7. f 13. b 19. h 1. assiduous 2.d 8. p 14. m 20. b, r 2. resourceful 3. g 9. 1 15. 0 21. u 3. fallacious 4. e 10. k 16. q 22. w 4. labyrinth 5. i 11. j 17. t 23.v 5. consummate 6.a 12. n 18. s 24. X

300

ANSWERS

•!• WEEK 18 Dar 1 Da~ 2 Dar 3 Day 4

1. innate 6.a 1. crave 6. d 1. deem 6. e 1. tortuous 6. b 2. abortive 7. e 2. myriad 7. b 2. buff 7. c 2. conjugal 7. a 3. modify 8. b 3. irrelevant 8. c 3. romp 8.d 3. peregrination 8. c 4. spontaneous 9. d 4. urbane 9.a 4. latent 9. b 4. Itinerant 9. d 5. accommodate 10. c 5. veneer 10. e 5. inherent 10. a 5. barometer 10. e

Da 5


1. c 7. m 13. s 19. e 1. barometer 2. f 8. 1, d 14. r 20. b 2. itinerant 3. J 9. d, 1 15. p 21. v 3. myriad 4. 0 10. a 16. h 22. X 4. deem 5. q 11. n 17. g 23. w 5. accommodate 6. I 12. t 18. k 24. u

•!• WEEK 19 Dar 1 Da~ 2 Dar 3 Day 4

1. profligate 6. e 1. mendacious 6. c 1. dismantle 6. d 1. restrtctlve 6. e 2. strtfe 7. c 2. exonerate 7. a 2. sumptuous 7. b 2. blunt 7. c 3. legion 8.a 3. expatriate 8. d 3. parsimonious 8. c 3. nostalgia 8. b 4. coup 9.d 4. fiat 9. e 4. pecuniary 9. e 4. rife 9. d 5. megalomania 10. b 5. amnesty 10. b 5. underwrite 10. a 5. balk 10. a

Dar 5


1. r 7. h 13. s 19. d 1. legion 2. 1 8.n 14. q 20. f 2. underwrite 3. j 9.p 15. m 21. x 3. rife 4. a 10. g 16. k 22. u 4. balk 5. c 11. i 17. 0 23. v 5. blunt 6. e 12. t 18. b 24. w

•!• WEEK 20 Dar 1 Dar 2 Dar 3 Day 4

1. nebulous 6. d t. J;~se. J .- 6. b 1. extant 6. d 1. lugubrious 6.e 2. reviled 7. b 2. abs ~mio"Ei§ ·- • · 7: e · 2. vicissiltides 7. b 2. puissant 7. d 3. Indict 8. e 3. redolent 8. d 3. edifice 8. e 3. unabated 8. a 4. pesky 9. c 4. omnivorous 9. a 4. sultry 9. c 4. maudlin 9. c 5. derogatory 10. a 5. disparate 10. c 5. trenchant 10. a 5. levity 10. b

Da 5

REVIEW HAPLESS HEADLINES WORDSEARCH 20

1. 0 7. e 13. 1 19. s l.j 6. q 1. pesky 2. g 6. d 14. n 20. r 2. e 7. t 2. unabated 3. a 9. b 15. j 21. v 3. d 8. r 3. indict 4. c 10. f 16. t 22. w 4. t 9. f 4. redolent 5. k 11. h 17. q 23. u 5. h 10. k 5. reviled 6. i 12. m 18. p 24. X

301

ANSWERS

•!• WEEK 21 Day 1 Da~ 2 Da~ 3 Da~ 4

1. opulence 6. b 1. lush 6. e 1. disciple 6. b 1. nurture 6. d 2. seton 7. e 2. ponder 7. b 2. metamorphosis 7. d 2. bona fide 7. e 3. obsequious 8. c 3. destitution 8. c 3. penance 8. c 3. salvation 8. b 4. indoctrinate 9. a 4. supplication 9. d 4. ascetic 9. e 4. nirvana 9. a 5. fulsome 10. d 5. decadence 10. a 5. desultory 10. a 5. materialism 10. c

Da 5


1. a 7. j 13. k 19. m 1. metamorphosis 2. t 8. i 14. r 20. n 2. disciple 3. e 9. d 15. b 21. v 3. salvation 4.h 10. c 16. q 22. u 4. bona fide 5. f 11. s 17. 0 23. X 5. ponder 6.p 12. l 18. g 24. w

•!• WEEK 22 Da~ 1 Da~ 2 Da~ 3 Da~ 4

1.juxtapose 6. b 1. fabricate 6. e 1. escalation 6. d 1. acknowledge 6. b 2. incompatibility 7. c 2. connubial - 7. c 2. indifference 7. e 2. delude 7. d 3. cope 8. d 3. demur 8. d 3. potential 8. a 3. palliate 8. c 4. plight 9. e 4. appellation 9. a 4. cumulative 9. b 4. prelude 9. a 5. covert 10. a 5. incapacitated 10. b 5. recondite 10. c 5. chimerical 10. e

Da 5


1. b 7. a 13. s 19. q 1. indifference 2. f 8. e 14. r 20. k 2. plight 3. l 9. p 15. 0 21. w 3. acknowledge 4.m 10. i 16. c 22. X 4. cope 5. j 11. d 17. g 23. u 5. prelude 6. h 12. t 18. n 24.v

•!• WEEK 23 Day 1 Da~ 2 Da~ 3 Da~ 4

1. maladjusted 6. e 1. neurotic 6. d 1. enunciate 6. e 1. perpetuate 6. d 2. heterogeneous 7. a 2. decade 7. a 2. irascible 7. c 2. catastrophic 7. b 3. perspicacious 8. b 3. mortality· 8. c 3. introspective 8. b 3. neutralize 8. a 4. analogous 9. d 4. susceptible 9. e 4. pedagogue 9.a 4. mandate 9. c 5. gamut 10. c 5. phenomenon 10. b 5. inordinate 10. d 5. compensatory 10. e

Da 5


1. f 7. i 13. p 19. 0 1. pedagogue 2. a 8. m 14.1 20. q l.. decade 3. r 9.n 15. k 21. u 3. heterogeneous 4. s 10. b 16. c 22.v 4. gamut 5. t 11. d 17. e 23. w 5. perspicacious 6. j 12. h 18. g 24. X

302

ANSWERS


1. inanimate 6. d 1. tainted 6. c 1. contemptuous 6. e 1. originate 6. b 2. artifact 7. a 2. prohibition 7. e 2. absurd 7. a 2. entreaty 7. d 3. fetish 8. e 3. imprudent 8. b 3. bigot 8. d 3. inviolable 8. c 4. anthropologist 9. c 4. taboo 9. d 4. abhor 9. c 4. vulnerable 9. a 5. bizarre 10. b 5. imperative 10. a 5. universal 10. b 5. tradition 10. e

Day 5

REVIEW ADJ. LDRS./NOUN FOL. WORDSEARCH 24

1. n 7. m 13. d 19. f 1. m 6. k 1. imprudent 2. r 8. s 14. g 20. I 2. c 7. b 2. inviolable 3. h 9. e 15. p 21. w 3. a 8. j 3. artifact 4. a 10. q 16. i 22. u 4. 0 9. i 4. imperative 5. c 11. b 17. t 23.x 5. e 10. g 5. inanimate 6. k 12. 0 18. j 24. v


1. eruption 6. c 1. conflagration 6. c 1. hoard 6. b 1. senile 6. a 2. puny 7. d 2. obliterate 7. b 2. sage 7. d 2. longevity 7. c 3. debris 8. a 3. rue 8. d 3. congenial 8. e J.doddering 8. b 4. awesome 9. e 4. initiate 9. e 4. aegis 9. c 4. imbibe 9. d 5. dispersed 10. b 5. deplorable 10. a 5. detriment 10. a 5. virile 10. e

Day 5


l.h 7. I 13. q 19. d 1. deplorable 2. p 8. j 14. s 20.0 2. obliterate 3. n 9.a 15. t 21. v 3. rue 4. i 10. c 16. g 22. w 4. detriment 5. f 11. r 17. b 23. u 5. aegis 6. k 12. m 18. e 24. X


1. hostile 6. b 1. aversion 6. b 1. tussle 6. e 1. acute 6. e 2. prevalent 7. a 2. superficial 7. c 2. intrinsic 7. a 2. transient 7. c 3. lethargic 8. d 3. rebuke 8. e 3. jettison 8. d 3. gist 8. d 4. paramount 9. e 4. evince 9. d 4. inevitable 9. c 4. terse 9. b 5. remiss 10. c 5. vogue 10. a 5. lucrative 10. b 5. cogent 10. a

Day 5


1. I 7. 0 13. h 19. f 1. prevalent 2. p 8. i 14. n 20. j 2. inevitable 3. d 9. c 15. e 21. w 3. superficial 4.a 10. t 16. m 22. x 4. cogent 5. k 11. q 17. g 23. v 5. jettison 6. s 12. r 18. b 24. u

303

ANSWERS


1. array 6. b 1. bereft 6. d 1. invective 6.d 1. inveterate 6. b 2. culminate 7. c 2. exultation 7. e 2. voluminous 7. a 2. pungent 7. a 3. pinnacle 8. d 3. constrict 8. c 3. besmirch 8. c 3. adamant 8. d 4. ardent 9. a 4. prodigy 9. b 4. retrospect 9. b 4. humtlity 9. e 5. obscure 10. e 5. falter 10. a 5. vitriolic 10. e 5. egotist 10. c

Day 5


1. b 7. a 13. s 19. h 1. retrospect 2. r 8. f 14. t 20. p 2. ardent 3. j 9. c 15. e 21. w 3. obscure 4. 0 10. q 16. I 22.x 4. culminate 5. m 11. k 17. n 23. v 5. falter 6. g 12. i 18. d 24. u


1. propinquity 6. b 1. disgruntled 6. b 1. sedate 6. b 1. avarice 6. c 2. vulnerable 7. e 2. panacea 7.a 2. serenity 7. c 2. insatiable 7. d 3. cacophony 8. a 3. eradicate 8. d 3. equanimity 8. e 3. nadir 8. e 4. exploit 9. c 4. infallible 9. c 4. compatible 9. a 4. irrational 9. a 5. bedlam 10. d 5. impede 10. e 5. revere 10. d 5. moribund 10. b

Day 5

REVIEW DOING DOUBLE DUTY WORDSEARCH 28

1. r 7. j 13. e 19. f 1. hoard 8. rebuke 1. impede 2. h 8. p 14. d 20. a 3. transient 10. obscure 2. serenity 3. i 9. s 15. g 21. v 6. sedate 11. exploit 3. cacophony 4.c 10. b 16. I 22. w 7, sage 4. irrational 5. m 11. 0 17. t 23. X 5. infallible 6. q 12. n 18. k 24. u


1. adherent 6. d 1. apathy 6. d 1. gusto 6. c 1. dilettante 6. b 2. lithe 7. b 2. exhort 7. c 2. banal 7. a 2. atypical 7. c 3. pathetic 8. a 3. inebriated 8. e 3. platitude 8. d 3. nondescript 8. d 4. obese 9. e 4. fracas 9. b 4. indolent 9. e 4. wane 9. e 5. bliss 10. c 5. adversary 10. a 5. garrulous 10. b 5. pique 10. a

Day 5


1.r 7.o 13.j 19.n 1. apathy 2. b 8. a 14. c 20. t 2. pathetic 3. i 9. q 15. h 21. X 3. indolent 4. p 10. s 16. k 22. u 4. platitude 5. f 11. m 17. d 23. w 5. adversary 6. I 12. e 18. g 24. v

304

ANSWERS


1. gaudy 6. e 1. condescend 6. c 1. zenith 6. e 1. wheedle 6. a 2. encumbrance 7. c 2. malign 7. d 2. omnipotent 7. a 2. charlatan 7. e 3. extinct 8. d 3. jocose 8. e 3. precedent 8. b 3. rustic 8. b 4. Idyllic 9. a 4. candor 9. a 4. fledgling 9. c 4. decorum 9. c 5. galvanize 10. b 5. mortify 10. b 5. peremptory 10. d 5. jubilant 10. d

Day 5


l.f 7. c 13. r 19. 0 1. extinct 2. s 8. a 14. b 20. h 2. galvanize 3. n 9. q 15. 1 21. v 3. peremptory 4.k 10. e 16. p 22. u 4. malign 5. I 11.j 17. t 23. X 5. candor 6. m 12. d 18. g 24. w


1. fervid 6. c 1. propagate 6. d 1. concomitant 6. e 1. incumbent 6. c 2. heresy 7. d 2. milieu 7. c 2. strident 7. c 2. ferment 7. d 3. prudent 8. e 3. anomaly 8. e 3. lassitude 8. d 3. dissent 8. b 4. ostensible 9.a 4. innocuous 9. a 4. deleterious 9. b 4. attenuated 9. e 5. spmious 10. b 5. surfeit 10. b 5. efficacy 10. a 5. arbiter 10. a

Day 5


l.c 7. j 13. s 19. f 1. deleterious 2. m 8. a 14. k 20. 0 2. spurious 3. q 9. p 15. t 21. X 3. ostensible 4. b 10. h 16. g 22. w 4. dissent 5. n 11. i 17. d 23. u 5. concomitant 6. e 12. r 18. 1 24. v


1. expedite 6. d 1. bizarre 6. c 1. venerable 6. b 1. salubrious 6. b 2. celerity 7. c 2. paltry 7. a 2. ambiguous 7. c 2. archaic 7. c 3. profound 8. e 3. usurp 8. b 3. succinct 8. d 3. facetious 8. d 4. alleviate 9. a 4. condone 9.d 4. menial 9. a 4. rabid 9. e 5. prodigious 10. b 5. trivial 10. e 5. extraneous 10. e 5. emulate 10. a

Day 5

REVIEW SELECTING ANTONYMS WORDSEARCH 32

1. p 7. r 13. k 19. d 1. partner 7. nadir 13. helpful 1. prodigious 2. n 8. 0 14. c 20. q 2. professional 8. tiny 14. wordy 2. usurp 3. a 9. j 15. m 21. x 3. active 9. condemn 15. urbane 3. celerity 4. h 10. I 16. e 22. w 4. sober 10. clear 4. venerable 5. g 11. f 17. b 23.v 5. falsehood 11. authentic 5.salubrious 6. 1 12. s 18. t 24. u 6. conservative 12. harmful

305

ANSWERS


1. complacent 6. c 1. foment 6. a 1. penitent 6. c 1. connoisseur 6. c 2. debilitate 7. e 2. slovenly 7. e 2. evanescent 7. b 2. allay 7. e 3. occult 8. d J.quarry 8. b 3. reproach 8. d 3. propensity 8. d 4. somber 9. b 4. discreet 9. c 4. tantamount 9. e 4. wary 9. a 5. impetuous 10. a 5. glean 10. d 5. abjure 10. a 5. deter 10. b

Day 5


1. d 7. q 13. c 19. J 1. abjure 2. t 8. p 14. h 20. 1 2. wary 3. f 9. a 15. k 21. v 3. complacent 4. s 10. r 16. 0 22, X 4. somber 5. e 11. n 17. b 23. w 5. glean 6. g 12. m 18. i 24. u


1. cumbersome 6. e 1. unmitigated 6. b 1. tenacious 6. d 1. au courant 6. c 2. interrogate 1. c 2. commodious 7. d 2. calumny 7. c 2. pittance 7. e 3. vigil 8. a 3. antiquated 8. a 3. grimace 8. b 3. unkempt 8. d 4. divulge 9. b 4. fluctuate 9. e 4. asinine 9. e 4. noisome 9. b 5. site 10. d 5. disheveled 10. c 5. facade 10. a 5. fastidious 10. a

Day 5


1. p 7. h 13. n 19. 0 1. unmitigated 2. q 8. f 14. 1 20. m 2. asinine 3. k 9. i 15. c 21. X 3. tenacious 4. b 10. r 16. e 22. v 4. antiquated 5. t 11. g 17. a 23. u 5. au courant 6. s 12. j 18. d 24. w


1. lampoon 6. d 1. nonentity 6. a 1. mien 6. b 1. stupor 6. a 2. whimsical 7. a 2. effrontery 7. c 2. refute 7. a 2. cliche 7. b 3. parable 8. e 3. equanimity 8. e 3. hirsute 8. d 3. wince 8. e 4. sanctimonious 9. c 4. flabbergasted 9. b 4. vivacious 9. c 4. whet 9. d 5. countenance 10. b 5. debacle 10. d 5. gaunt 10. e 5. pensive 10. c

Day 5


1. s 7. q 13. r 19. c 1. parable 2. p 8. e 14. f 20. g 2. refute 3. i 9. d 15. j 21. w 3. hirsute 4. 0 10. m 16. t 22. v 4. equanimity 5. h 11. b 17. 1 23. X 5. whet 6, a 12. k 18. n 24. u

306

ANSWERS


1. degrade 6. c 1. grotesque 6. b 1. acme 6. c 1. ingratiate 6.a 2. venial 1. e 2. compassion 7. e 2. depict 7. d 2. covet 7. b 3. genre 8. b 3. epitome 8. a 3. naive 8. b 3. penury 8. e 4. unsavory 9.a 4. repugnant 9. d 4. copious 9. e 4. perfidious 9. d S. candid 10. d S. dexterity 10. c 5. vehemently 10.a 5. Ignominious 10. c

Day 5


1. c 7. m 13. r 19. q 1. deter 6. Impetuous 1. copious 2. a 8. p 14. f 20. s 2. as1nine 7. discreet 2. naive 3. b 9. n 15. l 21. v 3. effrontery 8. perfidious 3. epitome 4. k 10. 1 16. e 22. X 4. disheveled 9. flabbergasted 4. tgnomtntous 5. d 11. g 17. j 23. w S. somber 10. vivacious 5. depict 6. h 12. t 18. 0 24. u


1. servile 6. d 1. tenable 6. b 1. Iconoclast 6. c 1. phobia 6. a 2. sojourn 7. c 2. austere 7. d 2. therapy 7. b 2. erudite 7. c 3. confront 8. e 3. superfluous 8. c 3. motivate 8. e 3. vertigo 8. e 4.volition 9. b 4. felicitous 9.a 4. rationalize 9. a 4. conducive 9. b 5. antipathy 10. a 5. halcyon 10. e 5. nascent 10. d 5. gennane 10. d

Day 5


1. f 7. h 13. s 19. p 1. nascent 2. e B.i 14. n 20. a 2. felicitous 3. d 9. g 15. r 21. X 3. halcyon 4. J 10. c 16. q 22. w 4. confront 5. I 11. 0 17. b 23. u 5. superfluous 6.m 12. t 18. k 24.v


1. gllb 6. c 1. fatal 6. b 1. capitulate 6. d 1. chicanery 6. c 2. trend 7. d 2. passe 7. c 2. stigmatize 7. b 2. doctle 7. d 3. legerdemain B. a 3. facets 8. e 3. audacity 8.a 3. tacit 8.a 4. malleable 9. b 4. procrastinate 9.a 4. foist 9. c 4. reticent 9.e 5. homogeneous 10. e. 5. stagnant 10. d s. tantalize 10. e 5. retort 10. b

Day 5


1. f 7. b 13.j 19. t 1. homogeneous 2. k 8. d 14. a 20. p 2.trend 3.1 9. h 15. g 21. v 3. reticent 4. r 10. s 16. 0 22. u 4. tantalize 5. e 11. 1 17. n 23. w 5. facet 6. c 12. q 18. m 24. x

307

ANSWERS


1. saga 6. b 1. opprobrium 6. b 1. vindicate 6. e 1. infraction 6. b 2. Imperturbable 7.d 2. Machiavellian 7. a 2. flay 7. d 2. callous 7. d 3. belated 8.c 3. unconscionable 8. d 3. demeanor 8. c 3. vituperation 8. a 4. decrepit 9.e 4. pandemonium 9. c 4. heinous 9. b 4. redress 9. c 5. vacillates 10. a 5. staunch 10. e 5. delineation 10. a 5. turpitude 10. e

Day 5


l.m 7. h 13. r 19. s 1. Infraction 2. n 8. f 14. I 20. e 2. heinous 3. p 9. d 15. b 21. v 3. opprobrium 4. a 10. k 16. 0 22. u 4. imperturbable 5.j 11. t 17. q 23. X 5. staunch 6. i 12. g 18. c 24. w


1. clique 6. b 1. vilify 6. a 1. proximity 6. c 1. fatuous 6. b 2. rhetoric 7. e 2. cant 7. c 2. lassitude 7. a 2. repertoire 7. c 3. facile 8. d 3. magnanimous 8. e 3. vapid 8. d 3. imperceptible 8. d 4. extol 9. a 4. umbrage 9. d 4. unwieldy 9. e 4. contort 9. e 5. mentor 10. c 5. elucidate 10. b 5. vitiate 10. b 5. augment 10. a

Day 5

REVIEW HAPLESS HEADLINES WORDSEARCH 40

l.b 7. s 13. c 19. h 1. e 6. g 1. umbrage 2. m 8. r 14. j 20. d 2. k 7. d 2. extol 3. n 9. 0 15. f 21. X 3. p 8. s 3. fatuous 4. a 10. q 16. t 22. u 4. c 9. n 4. imperceptible 5. g 11. I 17. i 23.v 5. q 10. a 5. vilify 6. e 12. k 18. p 24. w


1. succulent 6. c 1. sanction 6. d 1. spate 6. a 1. nutritive 6. a 2. intrinsic 7. e 2. insidious 7. c 2. advent 7. c 2. raucous 7. c 3. curry 8. d 3. allude 8. e 3. propriety 8. d 3. shibboleth 8. e 4. satiety 9.a 4. potpourri 9. b 4. proffer 9. b 4. bogus 9.d 5. pall 10. b 5. denotes 10. a 5. Impious 10. e 5. substantiate 10. b

Day 5


l.c 7. p 13. f 19. m 1. insidious 2.a 8. r 14. t 20. g 2. bogus 3. I 9. d 15. q 21. X 3. propriety 4. j 10. 0 16. b 22. u 4. intrinsic 5. i 11. h 17. e 23. w 5. sanction 6.k 12. s 18. n 24. v

308

ANSWERS


1. negligible 6. c 1. diversity 6. b 1. artless 6. e 1. delve 6. b 2. quandary 7. b 2. ennui 7. c 2. expurgate 7. a 2. replenish 7. e 3. expedient 8. d 3. comely 8. a 3. qualm 8. b 3. manifest 8. c 4. callous 9. e 4. artifice 9. d 4. gratuity 9. c 4. capricious 9. a 5. blase 10. a 5. frenetic 10. e 5. begrudge 10. d 5. requisite 10. d

Day 5


1. d 7. c 13. q 19. m 1. requisite 2. t 8.h 14.s 20. r 2. blase 3. i 9. n 15. 1 21. X 3. capricious 4. f 10. k 16. j 22. v 4. diversity 5. p 11. e 17. b 23. u 5. delve 6. g 12. a 18; 0 24. w


1. ameliorate 6. c 1. unctuous 6. b 1. largess 6. a 1. vestige 6. b 2. roster 7. a 2. cynic 7. c 2. mercenary 7. b 2. pariah 7. c 3. stunt 8. b 3. benevolent 8. d 3. criterion 8. e 3. aloof 8. e 4. atrophy 9. e 4. subservient 9. a 4. mollify 9.d 4. guise 9. d 5. maim 10. d 5. iniquity 10. e 5. repent 10. c 5. pragmatic 10. a

Day 5


1. p 7. b 13. i 19. s 1. benevolent 2. t 8.n 14. a 20. j 2.pariah 3. k 9. r 15. f 21. X 3. guise 4. 1 10. 0 16. c 22. w 4. iniquity 5. e 11. q 17. h 23. v 5. ameliorate 6. d 12. m 18. g 24. u


1. futility 6. c 1. canard 6. c 1. excoriate 6. a 1. Impromptu 6. b 2. technology 7. b 2. defamatory 7. d 2. frail 7. c 2. malevolent 7. e 3. nullify 8. e 3. plaintiff 8. b 3. potent 8. e 3. profuse 8. d 4. carnage 9. a 4.libel 9. e 4. reputed 9. d 4. diminutive 9. c 5. deluged 10. d 5. deprecate 10. a 5. devout 10. b 5. dulcet 10. a

Day 5


1. k 7. 1 13. t 19. r 1. deluged 6. bogus 1. profuse 2. g 8. e 14. n 20. q 2. diminutive 7. quandary 2. deluge 3. j 9. i 15. m 21. w 3. blase 8. benevolent 3. carnage 4. a 10. 0 16. p 22. u 4. succulent 9. negligible 4. excoriate 5. b 11. h 17. c 23. v 5. frenetic 10. excoriate 5. nullify 6. d 12. s 18. f 24. X

309

ANSWERS


1. raiment 6. c 1. rift 6. c 1. livid 6. b 1. decapitate 6. a 2. rail 7. a 2. raconteur 7. a 2. taut 7. c 2. penchant 7. e 3. corpulent 8. d 3. sullen 8. d 3. martinet 8. a 3. termagant 8. c 4. wistful 9. e 4. emissary 9. e 4. yen 9. e 4. appalled 9. b 5. brtgand 10. b 5. ruminate 10. b 5. bagatelle 10. d 5. callow 10. d

Day 5


l.b 7. f 13. h 19. k 1. appalled 2. d 8. c 14. m 20. t 2. penchant 3. e 9. j 15. q 21. X 3. corpulent 4.o 10. 1 16. g 22. v 4. emissary 5. p 11. n 17. i 23. u 5. decapitate 6. a 12. s 18. r 24. w


1. burgeoned 6. b 1. internecine 6. d 1. tyro 6. b 1. charisma 6. e 2. ascertain 7.c 2. dertved 7. c 2. obloquy 7. c 2. genocide 7. d 3. disseminate 8. d 3. nepotism a.· e 3. sophistry 8. d 3. prevarication 8. c 4. dormant 9. e 4. prerogative 9. a 4. factitious 9. a 4. hyperbole 9.a 5. potentate 10. a 5. dearth 10. b 5. encomiums 10. e 5. munificent 10. b

Day 5

REVIEW WHICH WORD? WORDSEARCH 46

1. t 7. 1 13. r 19. 0 1. h 6.m 1. ascertain 2. m 8. j 14. b 20. c 2. i 7. b 2. burgeoned 3. k 9.d 15. i 21. w 3. e 8. n 3. derived 4. a 10. n 16. f 22. u 4. I 9. p 4. dormant 5. q 11. s 17. h 23. v 5. c 10. f 5. encomium 6. g 12. p 18. e 24. X

310

ANSWERS

Buried Words 1st Week: automaton 17th Week: consummate 33rd Week: evanescent

interminable deploy complacent

2nd Week: gesticulate 18th Week: urbane 34th Week: grimace rudimentary itinerant commodious

3rd Week: condolence 19th Week: sumptuous 35th Week: parable lackluster underwrite gaunt

4th Week: tangible 20th Week: lugubrious 36th Week: epitome promulgate abstemious covet

5th Week: impunity 21st Week: scion 37th Week: sojourn paucity decadence nascent

6th Week: per9'erse 22nd Week: palliate 38th Week: malleable consternation connubial chicanery

7th Week: terminate 23rd Week: compensatory 39th Week: unconscionable implacable phenomenon vituperation

8th Week: harbinger 24th Week: imprudent 40th Week: repertoire remote contemptuous lauitude

9th Week: virulent 25th Week: doddering 41st Week: shibboleth entourage detriment spate

10th Week: peruse 26th Week: prevalent 42nd Week: requisite salient hostUe diversity

11th Week: elapse 27th Week: falter 43rd Week: atrophy corroborate adamant repent

12th Week: diatribe 28th Week: impede 44th Week: malevolent utopia cacophony profuse

13th Week: incontrovertible 29th Week: apathy 45th Week: penchant inchoate nondescript callow

14th Week: sinecure 30th Week: malign 46th Week: factitious aspire wheedle internecine

15th Week: controversial 31st Week: strident accompUce deleterious

16th Week: antithesis 32nd Week: archaic bulwark condone

Words in Context 1. c 5. d 9. d 13. b 17. a 2. b 6. b 10. c 14. d 18. b 3. b 7. b 11. d 15. a 19. d 4. a 8. c 12. c 16. b 20. c

311

FINAL REVIEW TEST

•!• Below are 150 of the words that you have been studying, each followed by four possible definitions. Write the letter of the correct answer in the appropriate space. To attain a mark of 60o/o, you would have to get 90 correct answers: 105 correct answers are worth a mark of 70%, 120 for 80%, 135 for 90%. After you have completed the test, check your answers on page 318.

1. implore (a) reject 11. sordid (a) varied (b) beg for assistance (b) guilty (c) summon (c) unable to speak (d) scold (d) dirty

2. voracious (a) greedy 12. solace (a) pity (b) vicious (b) comfort (c) dull (c) forgetfulness (d) careless (d) great happiness

3. badger (a) to pester 13. acrimonious (a) bitter (b) to cheat (b) brilliant (c) remind (c) tender (d) to insult (d) out of tune

4. laconic (a) tense 14. egregious (a) important (b) bashful (b) infected (c) troublesome (c) remarkably bad (d) brief in expression (d) swollen

5. plethora (a) overabundance 15. paucity (a) oveiWeight (b) helpless fit (b) deafness (c) a weakness (c) shortage (d) angry reaction (d) doubt

6. cajole (a) force 16. eschew (a) keep away from (b) demand (b) sneeze repeatedly (c) coax (c) invite (d) promise (d) deny

7. inadvertent (a) unappetizing 17. voluble (a) prtceless (b) unintentional (b) talkative (c) unaware (c) sinful (d) unknown (d) whining

8. mundane (a) forgetful 18. perfunctory (a) careless (b) friendly (b) hopeful (c) doubtful (c) without end (d) worldly (d) evil

9. jostle (a) joke with 19. chagrin (a) loneliness (b) interrupt (b) dismay (c) to push (c) opportunity (d) leap quickly (d) suspicion

10. brash (a) impudent 20. exacerbate (a) present arguments (b) stubborn (b) plead with (c) angry (c) question closely (d) upset (d) irritate

312

FINAL REVIEW TEST

-- 21. indigent (a) unreasonable 33. corroborate (a) represent (b) watchful (b) confirm (c) angry (c) search (d) poor (d) produce

-- 22. stymie (a) hinder 34. lurid (a) outraged (b) invent (b) sensational (c) confiscate (c) capable (d) cancel (d) guilty

23. fretful (a) lacking ambition 35. sanguine (a) hopeful (b) dark (b) objectionable (c) worrisome (c) rugged (d) mischievous (d) hard to discover

-- 24. harbinger (a) smooth-talker 36. sporadic (a) occasional (b) leader (b) special (c) forerunner (c) to the point (d) bit of advice (d) blotchy

-- 25. sanctuary (a) cemetery 37. anathema (a) treatment (b) agreement (b) violence (c) place of protection (c) apparatus (d) approval (d) a curse

26. astute (a) keen 38. fortuitous (a) lucky (b) reliable (b) significant (c) cheap (c) accidental (d) able (d) huge

27. blatant (a) boastful 39. archaic (a) rival (b) disagreeably loud (b) out of date (c) blossoming (c) healthful (d) rigid (d) comical

-- 28. nefarious (a) hungry -- 40. timorous (a) courageous (b) watchful (b) ambitious (c) footsore (c) fearful (d) villainous (d) tense

29. virulent (a) harmful 41. eventuate (a) to result finally (b) sloppy (b) pay your respects (c) sickly (c) borrow (d) revolutionary (d) interrupt

30. histrionics (a) unreasonable acts 42. inchoate (a) vague (b) nervousness (b) in an early stage (c) display of emotions (c) uneasy (d) studies of the past (d) ingenious

31. salient (a) traveling 43. propitious (a) suspicious (b) resentful (b) hasty (c) sober (c) frank (d) outstanding (d) favorable

32. wan (a) pale 44. viable (a) workable (b) sleepy (b) sensitive (c) jealous (c) tasty (d) unlucky (d) quiet

313

FINAL REVIEW TEST

-- 45. incisive (a) acute -- 57. perpetrate (a) plant (b) sluggish (b) consume in haste (c) massive (c) slice (d) jittery (d) commit

-- 46. inveigh (a) compose -- 58. assiduous (a) sly (b) react to (b) thrifty (c) attack verbally (c) busy (d) penetrate (d) educated

47. sinecure (a) urgent message -- 59. abortive (a) failing (b) silly response (b) outside the law (c) big responsibility (c) drowsy (d) soft job (d) unprepared

48. nettle (a) mix -- 60. tortuous (a) spiteful (b) suggest (b) inflicting pain (c) irritate (c) frank (d) suspend (d) winding

-- 49. abrogate (a) publish -- 61. peregrination (a) form of address (b) portray (b) travel (c) permit (c) insistence (d) cancel (d) hospitality

-- 50. extrinsic (a) loaded 62. myriad (a) geometric figure (b) containing wisdom (b) voter's choice (c) coming from outside (c) countless number (d) uncertain (d) minority decision

-- 51. asperity (a) artful handling 63. fiat (a) police squad (b) bitterness of temper (b) official order (c) foolishness (c) carriage (d) concern (d) council

-- 52. altruistic (a) unselfish 64. mendacious (a) lying (b) troublesome (b) abusive (c) dangerous (c) healing (d) dignified (d) merciful

-- 53. sedentary (a) hypnotic -- 65. profligate (a) soothing (b) largely inactive (b) obvious (c) scornful (c) distinct (d) musical (d) wasteful

-- 54. progeny (a) vigor -- 66. disparate (a) different (b) descendants (b) critical (c) minority opinion (c) religious (d) disease (d) uneven

-- 55. cupidity (a) affection -- 67. lugubrious (a) well-oiled (b) fate (b) warlike (c) greed (c) very sad (d) harmony (d) beyond dispute

-- 56. impeccable (a) faultless -- 68. puissant (a) ordinary (b) bold (b) studious (c) open to criticism (c) powerful (d) slow to respond (d) dictatorial

314

FINAL REVIEW TEST

-- 69. desultory (a) disconnected 81. elucidate (a) hide (b) incomplete (b) make clear (c) polished (c) paint (d) dry (d) sharpen

-- 70. fulsome (a) gratified -- 82. germane (a) sickly (b) superior (b) foreign (c) sensitive (c) charming (d) excessive (d) appropriate

-- 71. chimerical (a) accurate -- 83. mollify (a) tum against (b) imaginary (b) appease (c) regional (c) hope for (d) rigid (d) shorten

-- 72. recondite (a) observant 84. indolent (a) lazy (b) sincere (b) badly behaved (c) secret (c) owing money (d) willing to bargain (d) timely

-- 73. gamut (a) range -- 85. impromptu (a) dangerous (b) sleeve (b) not understood (c) intestine (c) wisely planned (d) bridge (d) spur of the moment

-- 7 4. irascible (a) conceited -- 86. umbrage (a) dark color (b) patriotic (b) offense (c) bumbling (c) waste (d) trrttable (d) generosity

75. perspicacious (a) vicious -- 87. artifice {a) trickery (b) shrewd (b) historic finding (c) sweaty (c) newness (d) light on one's feet (d) gradual change

76. taint (a) weaken 88. vacillate (a) follow closely (b) widen (b) fluctuate (c) contaminate (c) aggravate (d) cause (d) dominate

-- 77. aegis (a) fear -- 89. vestige (a) trace (b) hope (b) cloak (c) kinship (c) entrance (d) protection (d) hope

78. evince (a) prove -- 90. adamant (a) ambitious (b) throw away (b) timely (c) exhibit (c) wasteful (d) wonder (d) inflexible

-- 79. termagent (a) shrew -- 91. nepotism (a) without religion (b) insect (b) favoritism (c) ruler (c) patriotism (d) coward (d) deception

80. mien (a) appearance -- 92. reticent (a) reserved (b) hostile (b) in pain (c) cheerful (c) cooperative (d) important (d) without example

315

FINAL REVIEW TEST

-- 93. tyro (a) ruler __ 1 OS. carnage (a) slaughter (b) beginner (b) carrying away (c) fire-setter (c) marriage (d) wanner (d) anger

-- 94. staunch (a) evil smelling __ 106. aloof (a) painful (b) tight fitting (b) reseiVed (c) whiten (c) interested {d) strong (d) dishonest

-- 95. equanimity (a) sharing __ 107. vertigo (a) dizziness (b) self-control (b) color blindness (c) hostility (c) ambition (d) lively (d) extreme height

96. taut (a) tense 108. foment (a) become alcoholic (b) make fun of (b) investigate (c) pale (c) stir up (d) gradual (d) calm down

-- 97. mortify (a) calm down __ 109. inveterate (a) anxious (b) embanass (b) unknown (c) strengthen (c) questionable (d) pretend (d) habitual

-- 98. vapid (a) wet __ 110. refute (a) fame (b) quick (b) waste (c) remarkable (c) disobey (d) foolish (d) disprove

-- 99. covet (a) disguise __ 111. celerity (a) stardom (b) wish for (b) speed (c) bury (c) clearness· (d) change (d) sourness

1 00. condone (a) repeat 112. heinous (a) interference (b) punish (b) talkative (c) forbid (c) evilly wicked (d) pardon (d) powerful

__ 101. fatuous (a) h~avy __ 113. quandary (a) dilemma (b) interesting (b) quiet place (c) silly (c) hopeful sign (d) important (d) crowd

__ 102. imbibe (a) drink __ 114. efficacy (a) cheapness (b) enter (b) ease (c) clear away (c) mystery (d) change (d) effectiveness

103. ennui (a) fashionable 115. austere (a) wild (b) boredom (b) feverish (c) together (c) unadorned (d) hopeless (d) wishful

1 04. salubrious (a) sad 116. moribund (a) marvelous (b) dangerous (b) ambitious (c) painful (c) gradual (d) healthful (d) dying

316

FINAL REVIEW TEST

__ 117. noisome (a) unwholesome -- 129. encomium (a) highest prize (b) challenging (b) secret plan (c) loud (c) new idea (d) newly arrived (d) high praise

__ 118. spate (a) rush 130. avarice (a) clear path (b) excess (b) wealth (c) insult (c) greed (d) shortage (d) positive

119. nadir (a) climax statement

(b) secret place __ 131. malign (a) slander (c) lowest point (b) exterminate (d) happiest moment (c) join with

__ 120. halcyon (a) peaceful (d) dismiss

(b) ancient 132. venial (a) hopeless (c) innermost (b) unseen (d) careful (c) pardonable

__ 121. pragmatic (a) repeating (d) deadly

(b) fat 133. dulcet (a) hard to hear (c) practical (b) sweet to the ear (d) imaginative (c) soft to the touch

__ 122. atrophy (a) prize (d) easy to see

(b) begin again __ 134. entreaty (a) plea (c) change direction (b) agreement (d) waste away (c) capture

__ 123. discreet (a) patient (d) sudden end

(b) colorful __ 135. pensive (a) limited (c) cautious (b) thoughtful (d) generous (c) aged

__ 124. callow (a) cowardly (d) retired

(b) unfeeling __ 136. bizarre (a) busy (c) inexperienced (b) in a huny (d) private (c) timely

125. ruminate (a) reflect upon (d) fantastic

(b) move away __ 137. requisite (a) forgotten (c) reclassify thought (d) start anew (b) requirement

__ 126. congenial (a) clever (c) added problem

(b) agreeable (d) lovely object

(c) masterful 138. livid (a) disappointed (d) selective (b) enraged

127. decorum (a) behavior (c) bored

(b) attractiveness (d) pale

(c) liveliness __ 139. pique (a) resentment (d) meeting place (b) condition

128. banal (a) not allowed (C) hidden from

(b) nearly finished light

(c) trivial (d) wishful thinking

(d) highly respected

317

FINAL REVIEW TEST

- 140. galvanize (a) prepare to eat 146. abhor (a) yearn for (b) arouse to activity (b) hate (c) store away (c) distrust (d) experiment (d) join together

141. extol (a) explain __ 147. jocose (a) dizzy (b) apologize for (b) merry (c) praise highly (c) sticky (d) describe honestly (d) talkative

__ 142. allude (a) avoid 148. mentor (a) coach (b) cover up (b) enemy (c) yearn for (c) stranger (d) suggest (d) writer

__ 143. slovenly (a) slowly 149. hirsute (a) overly dressed (b) wisely (b) out-of-date (c) dangerously (c) haiiy (d) carelessly (d) bald

__ 144. prerogative (a) ask again 150. excoriate (a) complete (b) exclusive right (b) win easily (c) dMded power (c) criticize severely (d) first born (d) clean thoroughly

145. raiment (a) clothing (b) arrest (c) left over (d) bright color

Answers to Final Review Test

J 'ZEl p 'Oll q '88 'e '99 'e 'tt 'e ·zz 'e 'l[l p '60l 'e 'L8 p 'S9 p '(t p 'lZ J ·on J '80l q '98 'e 't9 q 'Zt p ·oz p '6Zl 'e 'LOl p ·so q 'E9 'e 'lt q '6l

J 'OSl J '8Zl q '90l 'e 't8 J 'Z9 J 'Ot 'e '8l J '6tl 'e 'LZl 'e 'SOl q 'E8 q 'l9 q '6E q 'Ll 'e '8tl q '9Zl p 'tOl p ·zo p '09 J '8E 'e '9l q 'Ltl 'e 'SZl q 'EOl q 'l8 'e '6S p 'LE J 'Sl q '9tl J 'tll 'e 'ZOl 'e '08 J '8S 'e '9E J 'tl 'e 'Stl J 'Ell J 'lOl 'e '6L p 'LS 'e 'SE 'e 'El q 'ttl p 'ZZl p 'OOl J '8L 'e '9S q 'tE q 'Zl p 'Etl J 'lZl q '66 p ·u. J ·ss q 'EE p 'll p 'Ztl 'e 'OZl p '86 J '9L q 'tS 'e 'ZE 'e 'Ol J 'ltl J '6ll q 'L6 q 'SL q 'ES p 'lE J '6 q 'Otl 'e '8ll 'e '96 p 'tL 'e ·zs J 'OE p '8 'e '6El 'e 'Lll q 'S6 'e 'EL q 'lS -e '6Z q 'L p ·on p '9ll p 't6 J 'ZL J 'OS p '8Z J '9 q 'LEl J 'Sll q 'E6 q 'lL p '6t q ·a 'e ·s p '9El p 'tll 'e 'Z6 p 'OL J '8t 'e '9Z p 't q ·su -e 'Ul q '16 -e '69 p 'Lt J ·sz 'e 'E 'e 'tEl J 'Zll p '06 J '89 J '9t J 'tZ 'e ·z q 'EEl q 'lll 'e '68 J 'L9 'e 'St J 'EZ q 'l

318

PANORAMA OF WORDS

•:• Originally introduced in the preceding edition, this section, in which you will find the 1100 words in sources as strikingly disparate as the Toronto Globe & Mail, Truman Capote, William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, Thomas Mann, TIME, Machiavelli, and Tom Clancy, validates the contention that this selected group of vocabulary words has been widely used by educated writers.

Most issues of your local newspaper, for example, will contain at least a dozen of the words you have encountered in these pages. But they also appear in advertisements, obituary notices, weather forecasts, cartoons, and brochures of all sorts. Wherever else you come in contact with adult vocabulary-radio and 1V shows, news broadcasts, college entrance exams, movie sc1ipts, books-you are likely to find more than a few of the words in 11 00 Words You Need to Know.

Now, for a useful summary of what you have learned in the forty-six lessons, read through "The Panorama of Words," noting the varied sources of their usage. Be aware that some of the following quotations have been a(lapted or edited for brevity.

319

PANORAMA OF WORDS

abhor "I abhor the process of hiring public setvants." Senator Wayne Morse, speech, 4/17/61

abjure "Galileo was summoned before the inquisition where he was ordered to abjure his theory." S. F. Mason, &ience Digest, 5/98

abortive "His company made an abortive attempt to circle the enemy position but they fell back under fire." Captain Ron Herbert, Keep Your Medals

abounds "A smart thriller that abounds with suspense and excitement!" Newspaper ad for film The General's Daughter

abrogate "I decided to abrogate the agreement since General Motors was not living up to its part of the bargain." Paul Sawyer, Seeking Justice

abstemious "Be more abstemious Or else, good night your vow." William Shakespeare, The Tempest

absurd "Many rules in the English language are absurd because they are based on Latin rules." Bill Bryson, Mother Tongue

access "Everything was simplified, and we were gaining access to infinity: soon the moon, SOON THE MOON!" Editorial, Le Figaro (Paris), 8/14/61

accommodate "The awards will be given out at a place that will accommodate CSpan." James Barron, "Public Lives," New York Times, 6/10/99

accomplice "His chief accomplice was Democratic boss John Dingell, who sold out his party in the dark of night." Maureen Dowd, "The God Squad," New York Times, 6/20/99

accost Sir Toby: "You mistake, knight: accost is front her, board her, woo her,

320

assail her." William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

acknowledged "They used the Swiss routes and camp sites-which they later acknowledged-and by the end of April were established in full strength at their fifth camp." James Ramsey Ullman, "Victory on Everest"

acme "He was the acme of a political figure." John Gunther, Inside U.S.A.

acrimonious "We quickly learn of the acrimonious relationship between the Montagues and the Capulets." Playbill, Summary of Romeo & Juliet

acute "The candidate presented an acute problem for his party because of his independent views." Jewell Bellush and Dick Netzer, Urban Politics

adamant "The candidate was adamant in his refusal to answer an embarrassing question about his early use of drugs." TIME, 8/12/99

adherents ''The state employs a flag as a symbol for adherents to the government as presently organized." U.S. Supreme Court decision. 1943

admonished "A little drummer boy grinned in me face whin I had admonished him wid the buckle av my belt for riotin' all over the place." Rudyard Kipling, "The Courting of Dinah Shadd"

adroit "Amazingly adroit in building model airplanes while he was in junior high, Eric moved on to an aeronautic career in his twenties." Val Bakker, "Early Decision" [adapted)

advent "Industrial canning and the advent of freezing have reduced home canning to a curiosity." Molly O'Neill, New York Times, 7/18/99

PANORAMA OF WORDS

adversaries "Both fighters had nothing but kind words to say about their adversaries." Hal Butler, "The Battle in the Rain"

adverse "Illogical as it may seem, adverse criticism can be very rewarding." S. Andhil Fineberg, "Deflating the Professional Bigot"

advocates "Advocates of marriage classes contend that giving teens these tools could eventually curb the divorce rate." Jodie Morse, "Hitched in Home Room," TIME, 6121199

aegis "The Federal Reserve will remain under the aegis of the veteran head who was reappointed by the President yesterday." New York Times, 115100

afflicted "It affiicted the neighborhood with the stench of slime that was now laid bare." Edmund Wilson, "The Man Who Shot Snapping Turtles"

affluent "You are affiuent when you buy what you want, do what you wish and don't give a thought to what it costs." J. P. Morgan, quoted in Crown Treasury of Relevant Quotations

alacrity "When the price of A.T.&T. dropped significantly, fund managers moved with alacrity to accumulate more shares." Ted David, CNBC Financial News

allay "The President's message was an attempt to allay the fears of senior citizens." "The Future of Medicare," Washington Post, 3/16198

alleged "I' harvested the intelligence that Ricks was alleged to have laid off all that portion of the State of Florida that has been under water into town lots and sold them to innocent investors." O'Henry, "The Man Higher Up"

alleviate "The report of the transportation division pointed out that the overcrowded

highways required immediate attention in order to alleviate the long delays." The Queens Courier, 1 I 11 I 00

alludes "Gertrude Stein's phrase, 'A rose, is a rose, is a rose' alludes to nothing more or less than what she writes." Alice B. Toklas, Time Capsule. 1933

aloof "Greta Garbo held herself so aloof from her co-stars, they felt they had not been introduced." Alistair Cooke, The Great Movie Stars

altruism "The conflict is between selfishness and altruism." Former Senator Estes Kefauver, campaign speech

ambiguous "If you disagree with a friend, be firm, not ambiguous." Samuel Ornage, The Golden Book

ameliorate "Our aim should be to ameliorate human affairs." John Stuart Mill

amicable "Their parting is effective Friday, and was described in their joint statement as 'amicable'." Bill Carter, "Lou Dobbs Quits CNN," New York Times, 619199

amnesty "No one is advocating wholesale amnesty for inmates solely because of advancing age." Tamer lin Drummond, "Cellblock Seniors," TIME, 6121199

amorous "A complete gentleman ought to dress well, dance well, have a genius for love letters, be very amorous but not overconstant." Sir George Etherege, The Man of Mode

analogous "Not with the brightness natural to cheerful youth, but with uncertain. eager, doubtful flashes, analogous to the changes on a blind face groping its way." Charles Dickens, Hard Times

anathema "The founding document of the American Reform movement depicted ritual

321

PANORAMA OF WORDS

as anachronistic, even anathema in an enlightened age." Samuel G. Freedman, "The On-Reformation," New York, 6/21/99

annals "He would begin these annals with Columbus, and he would keep on with them until his hand was too palsied to hold a pen." Catherine Drinker Bowen, Yankee from Olympus

anomaly "My mother was American, my ancestors were officers in Washington's army, and I am an anomaly." Winston Churchill, speech, 1953

anthropologist "Burning tobacco, anthropologists have found, was a religious practice over 2000 years ago in the Mayan culture." Jownal of Urban Health. 9/99

antipathy "There is no need to anticipate any antipathy from your future in-laws when you plan a wedding." "Wedding Guide," Courier-Life Publications, 7/99

antiquated "The custom of throwing rice at a newly married couple is an antiquated one, originally meaning a wish for many children." "Wedding Guide," Courier-Life Publications, 7/99

antithesis "Drunkenness is the antithesis of dignity." Bergen Evans, "Now Everyone is Hip About Slang"

apathy "The younger generation exhibits apathy toward the issue of freedom of the press." Herbert Brucker, Journalist

appalled .. A calm and steady temperament deserted him while he stared, appaUed. at the contents." John Cheever, The Wapshot Chronicle

appellation "He went under the appellation of 'Pretty Boy' but to his victims he was anything but that." Dexter Holcomb, Did the Roaring Twenties ReaUy Roar? [adapted]

322

arbiter "Sonja Henie became the supreme arbiter of skating fashions." Maribel Y. Vinson, .. Ice Maiden"

arbitrary .. My arbitrary decision not to run puts Massachusetts at a disadvantage and probably was a mistake." Representative Martin Meehan in Newsday, 6/1/99

archaic "Many procedures of the law have long seemed archaic to laymen." Supreme Court Justice William 0. Douglas, quoted in San Francisco Examiner, 1/4/71

ardent "TTl ere is no more ardent performer than Judy Garland as she allows her emotions to shine through." Penelope Houston, Sight and Sound, 1954

arrayed "She arrayed herself in what seemed unbelievably beautiful clothes." Shetwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio

artifact "In caves in Chile, remains of horses have been found along with human artifacts." A. Hyatt Verrill, The Strange Story of Our Earth

artifice "TTle successful advertiser will use any artifrce to get his message seen." E. S. Turner, The Shocking History of Advertising

artless "Behind the naive, artless manner, there was a woman scheming for success." John Simon, Reverse Angle

ascended "As he set himself to fan the fire again, his crouching shadow ascended the opposite wall." James Joyce, "Ivy Day in the Committee Room"

ascertain "Scientists have been trying to ascertain why dinosaurs became extinct so suddenly." A. Hyatt Verrill, The Strange Story of Our Earth

ascetic "You don't have to be an ascetic to wonder if there isn't something a bit manic about the pace of getting and spending in

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today's America." Paul Krugman, "Money Can't Buy Happiness. Er, Can It?," New York Times, 6/1/99

asinine "We have developed what I believe is an asinine rating system for motion pictures." Harold Owen, Jr., The Motion Picture

asperity "The path of beauty is not soft and smooth, but full of harshness and asperity." Havelock Ellis, The Dance of Life

aspirants "A number of playwrights, small aspirants to the big screen, must already be pricing ·beach houses in Malibu." Ross Wetzsteon, Introduction to New Plays USA

aspire "To humility indeed it does not even aspire" John Henry Newman, The Idea of a University

assets "Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified holding company with assets in manufacturing, insurance, aircraft safety training, etc." "Warren's Buffet's Fabulous Fund," Mutual Funds Magazine. 6/99

assiduously "Richard Greenberg is aiming here for big laughs at the expense of the generation he so assiduously chronicled in the past." Peter Marks, "Making Mincemeat of Boomer Values"

astute From an astute standpoint, that's exactly what the ballplayers should do instead of running out to mob the other guy." Tim McCarver, Baseball for Brain Surgeons

atrophy "Some people thought that too much reading would atrophy a girl's brain forever." Ann McGovern, The Secret Soldier

attenuated "The players' strike resulted in an attenuated and boring season." Sports Illustrated, 10/96

attest "Thousands of satisfied users can attest to the great features such as

Voicemail and Caller ID that work the san1e way wherever you go on our network." Newspaper ad for Internet company, New York Times, 6/12/99

atypical "He is an atypical candidate, without glamour, fame or wealth." New York Post, 8/15/99

au courant "He seemed to be au courant with everything." Arnold Bennett, Lord Raingo

audacity "Boldness be my friend! Arm me, audacity, from head to foot!" William Shakespeare, Cymbeline

augmented 'The Russian army was augmented by helicopters and rocket-launching tanks in its attack on the defenders." Newsday, 11/27/99

austere "New York City was founded by austere puritan colonists who could never imagine the city as it is today." Moses Riechin, The Promised City

automaton "She's an automaton; she has every quality in the world, and I've often wondered why it. is with all that I'm so completely indifferent to her." W. Somerset Maugham, The Treasure

avarice "He could not disguise his avarice under a cloak of religion." Ambrose Bierce

aversion "During the last years of his administration the mayor showed an aversion to taking political risks." Jewell Bellush and Dick Netzer, Urban Politics

avid "CUNY will have no more avid and fierce supporter for its mission than himself." Karen Arenson, "New Vice-Chairman of CUNY," New York Times, 6/10/99

awesome "Africa has some of the most awesome jungles in the world." John Hersey, Into the Valley

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badger 'There are other do's and don'ts: don't threaten your children, don't badger them." Newspaper ad for Partnership for a Drug-Free America. New York Times, 11/4/99

bagatelle "He saw the benefits to his people as a mere bagatelle... Winston Churchill, Great Contemporaries

balk "She rested on the stair-a young woman of a beauty that should balk even the justice of a poet's imagination." 0. Henry, "Roads of Destiny"

banal "Mansfield Park is a bore! What might have been attractive on a 1V screen proved to be uninteresting and banal on the big screen." "Koch Goes To The Movies," Queens Courier, 1 I 12 I 00

barometer "We watched carefully to see the ties that Mr. Smythe would wear as they were a sure barometer of the mood he would be in." Loring Brewster, "Vermont's Mr. Chips"

bedlam 'There was bedlam as the crowd awoke to the relief of victory." Dick Thatcher, Against All Odds

begrudge "Taxpayers never seem to begrudge the use of their money when spent on local projects important to them." Newsday,8122199

belated "When he made his belated entrance into the political campaign, he was told he had no chance." Jewell Bellush and Dick Netzer, Urban Politics

belittle "To say this is not to belittle subject matter, which is clearly essential to any proper education." William H. Kilpatrick, "Progressive Education"

belligerence "North Korea's belligerence in planning to test a long-range missile has led to a dramatic change of course for Japan

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and South Korea." Howard French, "Two Wary Neighbors Unite," New York Times, 814199

benevolence "My relationship to this land is purely spiritual: It's a place of absolute silence, absolute benevolence." Stephen Trimble, Wilderness

bereft 'The pictures of the bereft survivors searching for their loved ones are painful to see." Newsday, 9119199

besiege "He felt unable to carry the Confederate lines and settled down to besiege their fortifications." David Herbert Donald, Lincoln

besmirch "A primary attack on any witness against your client is an attempt to besmirch his or her character." Quoted in New York Times Magazine, 9120170

bias "U.S. SUIT CHARGES BIAS IN NASSAU COUN'IY PROPER1Y TAXES" Headline, New York Times, 6115199

bigot "For only by claiming the limelight can the bigot draw followers and an income." S. Andhil Fineberg, "Deflating the Professional Bigot"

bizarre "The police claim they were responding to the bizarre behavior of the man when they were forced to shoot him." New York Post, 9127199

blase "When he hit the home run that broke the record, he could no longer maintain his previously blase attitude." Newsday, 918198

blatant "It's a classic blatant pyramid scheme." Robert Hanley, "Gifting Club," New York Times, 6123199

bliss "Is there anything to match the bliss on a teenager's face the day she obtains her license to drive?" Car and Driver, 9199

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bluntly "Managers will put it bluntly: 'You've got to catch the ball.' " Tim McCarver, Baseball for Brain Surgeons

bogus lhe mayor denied his proposed change in the election law was a bogus attempt to seize more power." New York Times, 9/25/99

bona fide "Milosevic, a bona fide villain, will pay for his war crimes-we can be sure of that." Editorial, Washington Post, 5/28/99

brash "Baker's brash manner quickly antagonized the other warehouse workers." Seymour Broock, Labor Meets Its Match

brigands lhe history of motion pictures shows that, from the earliest silent films, stories about western brigands would capture a large audience." John Simon, Reverse Angle

bristle "No sooner had the dog caught sight of him, however, than it began to bristle and growl savagely." H. G. Wells, The Invisible Man

buff "Grandpa was a stock market buff, hanging around the Dreyfus office most every weekday and following the yo-yo Dow Jones averages." Eloise Ryan Abernethy, One FamUy's Finances [adapted)

bulwark !hat England, hedged in with the main, That water-walled bulwark. still secure And confidant from foreign purposes." William Shakespeare, King John

burgeoned "In recent years programs on AM, FM, shortwave and low-powered stations have burgeoned." Carlos Johnston, "Intelligence Report" Summer 1998

cache "Fagin drew from his cache the box which he had unintentionally disclosed to Oliver." Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist

cacophony .. At his side he had a battery run radio blasting forth a sickening cacophony of noise." Freeman Tilden, The National Parks

cajole "We had to cajole tonight's guest to come on the program because he's something of a hermit." Larry King on his CNN 1V program, 8/25/99

callous "The movie industry was callous in the way it treated writers who came from New York." Alex Ross, New Yorker, 2/23/98

callow "A group of newly arrived callow students followed nervously at the director's heels." Aldous Huxley, Crome Yellow

calumny "Overwhelmed by the calumny heaped upon him for his prejudice, he quickly resigned." Jewell Bellush and Dick Netzer, Urban Politics

canard "It's a canard to say I want to be a millionaire: I just want to live like one." Toots Shor, quoted in Life Magazine, 10/12/69

candid "Sweepstakes companies must be more candid about the chances of winning a prize." AARP Bulletin, 9/99

candor "He was struck by the candor and self-reliance of the women in these islands." "Pacific Paradise," New York Times, 8/9/99

cant "Although we hear much cant about loving one's neighbor, life provides endless examples of just the opposite." Paula Love, The WUl Rogers Book

capitulate "The embattled leader refused to capitulate to demands for his resignation." Newswee~ 8/19/99

capricious lhe snow removal equipment is always ready to face the capricious weather changes during the winter." Newsday, 12/24/98

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carnage "Amid the carnage resulting from the earthquake, many acts of courage can be seen." New York Times, 9/20/99

castigates "Here is Holofernes commenting upon Armando, a mad wordman who castigates another while himself vocalizes into a fine frenzy." Harold Bloom, Shakespeare

catastrophic "Romeo changes enormously under Juliet's influence, remains subject to anger and despair, and is as responsible as Mercutio and Tybalt for the catastrophic event." Harold Bloom, Shakespeare

caustic "His habitual sullermess, stern disposition and caustic tongue produced a deep impression upon our young minds." Aleksandr Pushkin, "The Shot"

celerity "The human mind acts at times with amazing celerity." Benjamin Cardozo, The Growth of the Law

cessation 'The evolutions of the waltzers were quieted, there was an uneasy cessation of all things as before." Edgar Allan Poe, 'The Masque of the Red Death"

chagrin "He spent great energy and achieved, to our chagrin. no small amount of success in keeping us away from the people who surrounded us." James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son

charisma "Yali radiated charisma and energy as he led his people." Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel

charlatan "Many of my friends believe in fortune tellers; I think they are charlatans." Letter to "Dear Abby," New York DaUy News, 5/16/99

chicanery "As a profession, lawyers have become associated with chicanery and confusion." People, 2/4/99

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chimerical "His utopia is not a chimerical commonwealth but a practicable improvement on what already exists." George Santayana, The Sense of Beauty

clandestine "Mr. DeLay's plan for another 'independent' group is nothing less than a proposal to create a clandestine and corrupt slush fund." Editorial, New York Times, 6/1/99

cliche 'The cliche 'Politics makes strange bedfellows' certainly applies in this situation." Newsweek, 9/20/99

cliques "The tragic event points out the danger of forming cliques in school that shut out many." Newsday, 5/15/99

coerce "The loan sharks sometimes have to coerce people in order to collect the debt." Peter Kilborn, "Lenders Thrive on Workers in Need," New York Times, 6/18/99

cogent "This article paints a clear and cogent picture of how to handle blowouts." Car and Travel, 9/99

cognizant "I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states." Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter From Birmingham Jail"

comely "An island peopled by the most comely women to be seen anywhere, Bora Bora is a must." TraveL 11/99

commodious "The new baseball stadium offered a more commodious arena for the fans and players." Sports Illustrated, 5/11/99

compassionate "In addition to professional skills, patients want a physician who is compassionate." Advertisement for Matmonides Medical Center, 9/25/95

compatible "The policies of the party are not compatible with his conservative

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beliefs." U.S. News and World Report, 8/25/99

compensatory "The compensatory factor was a new arrival; Anukul had a son born to him." Rabindramath Tagore, "My Lord, the Baby"

complacent "Weather experts warn not to be complacent about the possibility of a dangerous hurricane." New York, 9/18/95

complicity "After 1945, Hitler's Germans replaced complicity with denial." Lance Morrow, "Done in the Name of Evil," TIME, 6/14/99

component ''The F.B.I. did, in fact, develop a racial component, the profile of serial killers as predominantly white, male loners." Jeffrey Goldberg, "The Color of Suspicion," New York Times, 6/20/99

compounded ''The match between England and Argentina, always a blood feud, was compounded by the memory of the Falklands crisis." Henry Kissinger, "Pele," TIME, 6/14/99

comprehensive "Lecter was built up as a superman, embodying absolute yet comprehensive evil." Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, "Hannibal Lecter Returns," New York Times Book Review, 6/10/99

concocting "I am concocting a seduction; I do not require a pastry chef." Ben Brantley, New York Times, 6/15/99

concomitant ''The doses of the drug were increased with the concomitant result that he quickly became an addict." Otto Friedrich, Before the Deluge

concur "Dr. Fishbein did not concur with his colleague's diagnosis and urged the Harper family to seek an opinion from the head of the Urology Department at

Columbia Presbyterian." "Prostate Update," Prostate Digest, 9/99

condescending "The reviewer treated this important book in the most condescending and dismissing manner." Letter to New York Times Book Review, 7/25/99

condolence "Words of condolence seem very poor things and yet they are all one can use to tell of one's sympathy." Maisie Ward, Father Maturin

condone "He does not condone the actions of any of the participants in the impeachment hearings." New York Times Book Review, 9/26/99

conducive "The quiet calm of this garden is conducive to romance or repose." "The Sophisticated Traveler," 9/26/99

confidant "Lecter rents a lavish house not terribly far from the modest duplex of FBI agent Starling, his antagonist/ confidant during the period seven years earlier." Paul Gray, "Dessert Anyone?," TIME, 6/21/99

conflagration "Did the firing of incendiary tear gas canisters cause or contribute to the conflagration?" New York Times, 9/3/99

confronts "When we gaze into a seeming infinity of tomorrows, we face the challenge that any generation confronts when it looks ahead." Editorial. "2000 and Beyond," New York Times, 1/1/00

congenial "Susan's congenial manner made her a favorite in the rodeo." Lacey Fosburgh, "All-Girls Rodeos," New York Times, 8/17/99

conjecture "We read to understand how to take care of ourselves, to prepare for the unexpected, to conjecture what we would do in similar situations." Annie Proulx. "They Lived to Tell the Tale"

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conjugal Hillary is Our Lady of Perpetual Coryugal Suffering; the patron saint of every woman who's every been wronged." Maureen Dowd, "Rudy in Reverse," New York Times, 6/6/99

connoisseur 'This is the car for the connoisseur who doesn't have to think about cost." Car and Driver, 10/99

connubial "I never could imagine connubial bliss until after tea." W. Somerset Maugham, Cakes and Ale

consternation "Father and son stared at each other in consternation and neither knew what to do." Pearl Buck, The Good Earth

constricted "He grew up in slightly less constricted circumstances than his teammates." Darcy Frey, The Last Shot

construed "Hemingway's simple approach was construed as mysticism." Robert Ruark, "Ernest Was Very Simple"

consummate "Arnold Zweig, a writer of consummate artistry. presents a picture of delicacy and charm that hovers on the brink of disaster." Roger Goodman, World-Wide Stories

contemptuous "It is not difficult to feel contemptuous when studying the ugly behavior of some of the powerful figures of motion pictures." Pauline Kael, I Lost It at the Movies

contort "He is an actor who can contort his face into any number of shapes." People, 4/15/99

controversial "His three-year tenure was controversial and contained charges of racism." Monte Williams, "Roosevelt Island Chief," New York Times, 6/10/99

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cope "Every single muscle in the body was strained to the uttermost throughout the watch to cope with the steering." Thor Heyerdahl, Kon Tiki

copious "The wedding reception featured copious amounts of food, drink, and music." New York Times, 9/26/99

corpulent "When he squeezed his corpulent body into a chair he seemed to be stuck there forever." Charles W. Thompson, Presidents I Have Known

corroborated "Bill corroborated the captain's statement, hurried back down the glistening ladders to his duty." Hanson W. Baldwin, "R.M.S. Titanic"

coterie "The aristocratic coterie finally got the upper hand." Edith Hamilton, The Greek Way

countenance "Behind a most pleasant countenance, this dictator has maintained a most brutal regime." Newsweek, 2/21/98

coup "Newt Gingrich was nearly toppled in a coup attempt in the House." Michael Duffy, "Who Chose George?." TIME, 6/21/99

covert "In a covert manner, Knute traveled abroad that night." Sinclair Lewis, "Young Man Axelbrod"

coveted "The moment has arrived for our annual coveted 'Bloopie' Awards." William Safire, New York Times, 7/18/99

crave "It's the perfect way for the Clintons to hang on to the power, glamour and excitement they both crave." Bob Herbert, "It Could Happen." New York Times, 6/6/99

criterion "This new product is useful. but the major criterion is its safety." Car and Trave~ 10/99

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cryptic "Ms. Bogart, an iconoclastic director known for her cryptic reworkings of everything, turns out to be an ideal interpreter for Gertrude Stein." Ben Brantley, "Gertrude and Alice," New York Times. 6/14/99

culminated "The years of physical and mental training culminated in the fulfillment of a lifelong dream." Vim & Vigor, Summer 1998

culpable "When the jury found Stacy culpable, she collapsed in a state of shock." Eloise R. Baxter, "Judgment Day"

culprit "We pointed out the tender age and physical slightness of the little culprit." Thomas Mann, "Mario and the Magician"

cumbersome "Grizzly bears may look cumbersome and awkward, but don't be deceived." Nature, 2/97

cumulative "There can be an extraordinary cumulative strength in Mr. Foote's plays." Ben Brantley, New York Times, 6/18/99

cupidity "There is little real humor in this picture of cunning and cupidity as revealed by a petty contest for a paltry sum." Liam O'Flaherty, "A Shilling"

curry "The candidates are visiting many senior centers in an attempt to curry support among the elderly." AARP Bulletin, 9/99

cursory "Even a cursory glance at the text of the peace agreement shows that the Yugoslav leader has accepted NATO's demands in full." Tim Judah, "What Do We Do With Serbia Now?," New York Times, 6/4/99

curtail "A court decision to a freeze on regulations to curtail cross-state pollution was unpopular." "EPA's Reduced Standards," Newsday, 6/15/99

cynical "A cynical view of phone calls or mail offering free merchandise or membership is the safest approach." Newsweek. 6/7/98

dearth "There was no dearth of criticism of his work." H. L. Mencken, "The Case of Dreiser"

debacle "After leading the league for most of the season, September brought the debacle that ruined their hopes." Roger Kahn, The Boys of Summer

debilitating "Exercise can help people overcome debilitating illnesses." Vim & Vigor, Summer 1998

debris "They continued their support for earthquake victims in the debris of collapsed houses." New York Daily News, 8/7/99

decade "Clearly, the first decade of the 21st century will be the 'e-decade,' as all forms of e-commerce and e-ways of life continue to grow." Letter to the editor, New York Times, 1/1/00

decadence "I said earlier that the decadence of our language is probably curable." George Orwell, Politics and the English Language

decapitate "The FBI hoped that the arrest of the drug lord would decapitate the illegal organization." David Denby, Beyond Rangoon

declaimed "Some of the province's most illustrious men visited the courthouse and declaimed within its four walls." Hazel Grinnell, Travel Journal

decorum "My father's sense of decorum was shattered by his son's bad behavior in the restaurant." Peter Balakian. Black Dog of Fate

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decrepit "Some schools are in such decrepit condition that students will be transferred to safer schools until repairs can be made." NYC Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew, Newsday, 7/6/99

deem "You shall stay here as long as the proper authorities deem necessary." Bernard Malamud, The Fixer

defamatory "His defamatory remarks about minorities are transmitted on the Internet." TIME, 8/30/99

degraded 'The world is weary of statesmen who have become degraded into politicians." Benjamin Disraeli

deleterious 'These statutes will have a deleterious effect on the public interest." Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark, speech, 1960

delineation 'There is no need for an exact delineation of a standard for a permit to hold a street meeting." Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, decision, 1951

deluded "Mrs. Barrows had deluded herself that you visited her last evening and behaved in an unseemly manner." James Thurber, 'The Catbird Seat"

deluge 'The art exhibit brought a deluge of criticism because of its subject matter." New Ybrk Daily News, 9/28/99

delve "We can help you delve deeper into your destination and take you places most travel companies miss." GrWl.d Circle Travel Booklet

demeanor "You could tell by her demeanor that she was more than a bit upset by the unexpected news." New York Times, 9/7/99

demur "At first the Crown Prince would demur, but after being prodded, he would generally choose dictation, which he liked

330

least." Elizabeth Gray Vining, Windows for the Crown Prince

denote 'The origins of the letters 'O.K.' to denote 'all right' are not clear." Bill Bryson, Mother Tongue

depict "How can one depict the beauty and impact of Grand Canyon in words or pictures?" Freeman Tilden, The National Parks

deplorable "The troops were amazed at the deplorable conditions in the refugee camp." Newsweek, 5/12/97

deploy "Eisenhower expressed the hope that the United States would not be the first to deploy a weapon so horrible." David McCullough, Truman

deprecate "Why do they always deprecate the efforts of a woman press secretary, but rarely a man doing the same job?" New York, 9/25/95

derided "He made his living in a vocation so derided it has become a gag phrase: wedding singer." Joyce Wadler, "Public Lives," New York Times, 6/15/99

derived "His political success is derived mainly from the public awareness of his prominent family." TIME, 2/16/98

derogatory "When a communist father noticed a religious program·· on 1V, he uttered a derogatory statement and turned off the program." J. Edgar Hoover, "Why Do People Become Communists?"

desist "My husband kicked me under the table and warned me to desist." Phyllis Krasilovsky, "Pumpernickel in My Purse," New York Times, 6/12/99

destitute "Our Supreme Court has said that any citizen has a Constitutional right to have counsel. and that the court must appoint a lawyer to defend the destitute."

PANORAMA OF WORDS

Joseph Welch, "Should a Lawyer Defend a Guilty Man?"

desultory "Mortimer enters and, distracted by what his aunts are doing, plants a desultory kiss upon Elaine's cheek." Joseph Kessehing, Arsenic and Old Lace

deter "Concern for his job did not deter him from making public the dangers of smoking." "Brave Politician," New York Times, 4/12/99

detriment 'The New York City Board of Education voted not to renew the chancellor's contract as the majority viewed him as a detriment to improvements in education." New York Newsday, 1/4/00

devout 'This author has a devout following among young readers." New York Times Book Review, 7/25/98

dexterity "Ali built his career based on his dexterity, both in the ring and in the use of colorful language." Boxing, 3/95

diatribe "Rebecca Gilman's new play could easily have been an easy diatribe against racism." TIME, 6/7/99

dilettante "This art exhibit is not for the dilettante; the subject matter is too shocking." New York DaUy News, 10/3/99

diminutive "A. giant of a chef, he is a diminutive, modest man." New York Post, 10/10/99 '

discern "He could not see that the Justice's face was kindly nor discern that his voice was troubled." William Faulkner, "Barn Burning"

disciples "Rick and his disciples dominated the entire summer scene, making it unpleasant for those who were not part of the inner circle." Ellis R. Sloane, CatskUl Idyll [adapted!

discreet "When questioned about her husband's illegal activities, she kept a discreet silence." Newsday, 5/16/99

disdain "Hillary shows disdain for the idea that matters other than policy are anyone's business." Margaret Carlson, "Uh-Oh, the Re·al First Lady Shows Up," TIME, 6/7/99

disgruntled 'The police believe the damage was done by a disgruntled ex-employee." Newsday, 5/16/99

disheveled "The wind tugged at and disheveled her hair." William Cowper, The Task

dismantle "Wayne Huizenga's move to dismantle the World Series Marlin squad has hurt the Florida team at the box office." Ralph Kiner, baseball announcer, Fox Sports [adapted!

disparage "It (government control) has been called crackpot, but that doesn't disparage it for me." E. B. White, One Man's Meat

disparate "At the moment standardized tests have a disparate racial and ethnic impact." Abigail Thernstrom, "Testing, the Easy Target," New York Times, 6/10/99

dispersed 'The police waded in and dispersed the protesting crowd." New York Post, 10/23/99

disseminate "In the history of the world, no other tool has allowed us to disseminate more information than the Internet." Computer World, 5/99

dissent "In the totalitarian state that utopianism produced, dissent could not be tolerated." Anthony Lewis, "Abroad at Home," New York Times, 12/31/99

distraught "On the veranda of Banker White's house Helen was restless and

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PANORAMA OF WORDS

distraught" Sherwood Anderson, "Sophistication"

diversity "Mr. Oates said this rare docu:ment belonged in Queens because it is the center of ethnic diversity for this country." New York Times, 1/5/00

divulged "The DNA tests divulged enough evidence to free him from death row." Newsweek, 2/17/98

docile "How long can they remain docile, living under such terrible oppression?" Business Week, 6/16/98

doddering 'The image of the aged as suffering from memory loss and doddering mobility is far from accurate." AARP Magazine, 9/99

doleful 'The patients were left in doleful plight, as the whole country resounded with the consequent cry of 'hard times'." Washington Irving, 'The Devil and Tom Walker"

domicile "At night he returned peaceably enough to his lonesome domicile." Theodore Dreiser, 'The Lost Phoebe"

dormant "The disease may lie dormant for years before becoming active and dangerous." Johns Hopkins Health Letter, 5/97

dregs "Some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me." William Shakespeare, Richard III

drudgery "And then she came to find the paralytic aunt-housework-janitor's drudgery." Anzia Yezierska. "Hunger"

dubious "Many scientists say its experimental merits are dubious." Margaret Wente. "Fifth Column." Globe and Mail. Toronto, 5/27/99

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dulcet "Her dulcet tones and intelligent reading of the story captivated the hearers." "Our Town," New York Times. 10/7/99

duped "Barnum knew the American public loved to be duped." W. L. Phelps. American Entrepreneurs

duplicity "The duplicity of which he had been guilty weighed on his spirit." H. C. Bunner, "Our Aromatic Uncle"

duress "Under duress she was forced to admit having lied during a 1994 deposition in her breach of contract law suit." Associated Press report. Newsday, 6/24/99

edifice "My love was like a fair house built on another man's ground so that I have lost my edifice by mistaking the place where I erected it." William Shakespeare. The Merry Wives of Windsor

efficacy "He runs his office with the greatest efficacy." Sally Quinn. Chicago Sun Times, 12/9/79

effigy "ANGRY SERBS HANG UNCLE SAM IN EFFIGY'' Headline over Associated Press photo. New York Times. 8/23/99

effrontery "In view of his personal background, we were astonished at his qflrontery in attacking the morals of the candidate." Jewell Bellush and Dick Netzer. Urban Politics

egotist "It takes an egotL<;I to believe that nature has provided these beauties as a special act on his behalf." Freeman Tilden, The National Parks

egregious "It is mystifying why some women still stick with Bill through so many egregious episodes." Maureen Dowd, New York Times. 6/2/99

elapsed 'True. a decent time had elapsed. and it was not even suggested that Waythorn

PANORAMA OF WORDS

had supplanted his predecessor." Edith Wharton, The Descent of Man [adapted]

elicit "The experimental animal obviously hoped to elicit a reproduction of the pleasurable sensations he had experienced under laboratory conditions." Loren Eiseley, "Man and Porpoise"

elucidate "The Secretary of State tried to elucidate the government's policies. in the troubled Middle East." New York Times, 5/7/98

elusive "In his appearance there was something attractive and elusive which allured women and disposed them in his favour." Anton Chekhov, "The Lady with the Dog"

emaciated "Twiggy, whose fame was related to her emaciated look, is now better known for her singing and dramatic talent." Play review, New Jersey Star Ledger, 5/12/99

embellished "The prioress may not have told the correct story in all its details and she may even have embellished the story a little bit to make it more attractive." Lin Yutang, "The Jade Goddess"

eminent "It was unbelievable that a man so eminent would actually sit in our dining room and eat our food." V.S. Pritchett, "The Saint"

emissary "The mayor sent an emissary to the striking teachers in the hope of starting negotiations." Jewell Bellush and Dick Netzer, Urban Politics

emitted "The smoke that was emitted when the bomb went off made some think it was a firecracker but I thought it was a revolver shot." Journal of Andre Gide, Vol. I

emulate "Her companions she loved and admired but could not emulate for they

knew things she did not." Rose Macaulay, The World My Wilderness

encomiums "Isn't it sad that we receive our highest encomiums after we are gone and unable to enjoy them?" James Farley, quoted in RujJles and Flowishes

encumbrance "Maxim decided to dispose of the encumbrance of a whining wife and three disrespectful teenagers by leaving silently in the dead of the night." Everett Dodds, Greener Pastures [adapted]

engrossed "The wasp was engrossed utterly in her task." Alan Devoe, "The Mad Dauber"

enhance "Her breadth of experience and determination to enhance her knowledge have increased her value to Con Edison." Con Edison Report, Producing Excellence, 1998

enigma "He was an enigma-by this I mean that he did not look soldierly nor financial nor artistic nor anything definite at all." Max Beerbohm, "A. V. Laider"

ennui "The ennui and utter emptiness of a life of pleasure is fast urging fashionable women to something better." Elizabeth Cady Stanton, The Newport Convention

entourage "Sinatra was the greatest but I was never a part of his entourage, his rat pack." Comedian Buddy Hackett to New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, New York Daily News, 7/14/99

entreaty "The police captain made one more entreaty for the unruly crowd to leave." New York Post, 10/23/99

enunciated "At his press conference, Jerry Springer enunciated his qualifications for a Senate seat in Ohio." Francis X. Clines, "Springer Considers Race for Senate," New York Times, 8/4/99

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PANORAMA OF WORDS

epithets "Four scowling men sat in the dinghy and surpassed records in the invention of epithets." Stephen Crane, 'The Open Boat"

epitome "My community considers a man in uniform to be the living epitome of heroism." Lucius Garvin, Collected Essays

equanimity "We have to call upon our whole people to stand up with equanimity to the fire of the enemy." Winston Churchill, speech, 1942

eradicate "The urologist said that prostate cancer patients shouldn't hang their hopes on having the vaccine eradicate the disease in the near future." Associated Press, "Vaccine Fights Prostate Cancer," Newsday, 10/21/99

erudite "The erudite historian, Prof. Garrett Clark, will speak on 'Evaluating Democracy' at our April meeting." Lancaster Library Bulletin, Spring 2000

eruption "We have learned about this ancient city, frozen in time by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D." Grand Circle Travel Booklet, 1999

escalation "There is a dangerous escalation in Kashmir as India and Pakistan are engaged in the worst fighting in decades." Editorial, New York Times, 6/22/99

eschew "When in Rome, we decided to eschew Arithmetic." Ruth McKinney, "Proof in Nine"

ethics ''The vast majority of employees perform in a highly satisfactory manner because good work ethics exist in their kitchens." Manual for School Food Servic~ Managers in N.Y.C. Public Schools !adapted]

euphemism "But now he was merely an elder statesman, the euphemism for a politl-

334

cian who no longer has any influence." Robert Wallace, "Not Him"

evaluate "Mr. Gooding hopes to find the answer if his mentor gives him the chance to evaluate the prisoner." Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times, 6/4/99

evanescent ''The incidents which give excellence to biography are of a volatile and evanescent kind." Samuel Johnson, 'The Rambler" No. 30

eventuated "Her illness following the chemotherapy eventuated in death." Terrence Foy, St. Louis Blues

evince 'The vote on Roe vs. Wade will show whether enough senators evince an interest in overturning the 1973 Supreme. Court decision." Elaine Povich, "Abortion Politics," Newsday, 10/22/99

exacerbated "Jason Isringhausen's injuries were exacerbated by his immaturity." Howie Rose, Mets Baseball Announcer, Fox Sports, 6/8/99 !adapted]

excoriate "Senator Bradley refused to excoriate his opponent, preferring to take the high road in the campaign." ABC Eyewitness T.V. News, 10/21/99

excruciating "An almost excruciating agitation results when a leaf falls into still water." Jack London, "To Build a Fire"

exhort "There was no reason for me to exhort the guys to play hard because they were already giving me 110%." Mets Baseball Manager Bobby Valentine on Radio Talk Show WFAN, 10/21/99

exonerate "There is no reason to exonerate him from the ordinary duties of a citizen." Oliver Wendell Holmes, Collected Legal Papers

PANORAMA OF WORDS

expatriate "For months she lived the nocturnal life of an expatriate American tango bum." Jimmy Scott, "Flirting with the Tango," New York Times, 6/11/99

expedient "There exists the age old choice between a moral action and an expedient one." Arthur Koestler, Darkness at Noon

expedite "There was a pressing need to expedite assistance to those suffering after the earthquake." Newsday, 8/15/99

exploit "He has not wanted to exploit his fame as a basketball star for political advantage." Boston Globe, 7/27/99

expunge "If the offender made it to adulthood without further problems, everything would be expunged." James Kilpatrick, "Boy Learns Constitution-the Hard Way," Burlington Vermont Free Press, 6/12/99

expurgate "Lenny resisted any attempt by the law to expurgate his language dealing with personal and private behavior." "Lenny Bruce, Voice of Shock," Atlantic Monthly, 5/86

extant "Rumors are extant that the Federal Reserve members are greatly concerned about the irrational exuberance of investors." Bloomberg Financial News, 4/12/98

extinct "There are many warnings that loss of habitat will make many species extinct in the near future." "The Rotunda," Publication of the American Museum of Natural History, 5/5/98

extol "They extol the largely nonexistent virtues of bygone eras." Artemus Abruzzi, Commonsense

extortion "To the prince who goes forth with his army, supporting it by pillage and extortion, this open-handedness is necessary." Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

extraneous 'The ballet struck me as extraneous and out of keeping with the rest of the play." Wolcott Gibbs, More in Sorrow

extrinsic "Disdaining contributions from extrinsic lobbying groups, the candidate won my admiration and my vote." Lawrence Burton, "Inside the Polls"

exult "YANKEES EXULT OVER PEl III IE'S PERFORMANCE" Headline, Sports Section, Newsday, 6/19/99

exultation "We face the year 2000 with a combination of concern and exultation." Newsweek, 12/15/99

fabricate "Perhaps the dialogues that you fabricate are nothing more than monologues." Miguel Unamuno, "Mist"

fa~ade "He hid behind thefa~ade of public servant to work at a private agenda." H. L. Woods

facet "As soon as one becomes computerliterate, a new technical facet is introduced that challenges us once again." New York Times, 10/25/99

facetious "Politicians must be careful about any facetious comment that can be turned into an opponent's advantage." Jewell Bellush and Dick Netzer, Urban Politics

facile "We are usually more facile with words we read than with words we use to write or speak.·· Charlton Laird, The Miracle of Language

factitious "The opposition was challenged by a factitious outpouring of what appeared to be popular support for the. government." Robert Kaplan, Balkan Tragedy

fallacious "The demand was plausible, but the more I thought about it, the more falla-

335

PANORAMA OF WORDS

cious it seemed." A. D. White, Scams and Schemes (adapted!

falter "Should we falterin our determination to pursue an honorable solution to the problems of the Middle-East. and face unthinkable consequences?" I. F. Stone, "The Weekly Reader"

fastidious "A single small elephant tusk took no less than two months of fastidious work to excavate." Brian Fagan, Time Detectives

fatal "What caused him to lose the election was his .fatal mistake of not raising sufficient funds to publicize himself." Jewell Bellush and Dick Netzer. Urban Politics

fatuous "After only a few seconds of silence. speakers of English seem obligated to say something, even making a fatuous comment about the weather." Bill Bryson, The Mother Tongue

feasible "Everyone who has looked at the smart guns said there is no quick . .feasible way of doing this." Leslie Wayne. "Smart Guns," New York Times, 6/15/99

feint "Young as Oliver was. he had sense enough to make a .feintoffeeling great regret at going away." Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist

felicitous "The evening of hypnotism was not a felicitous one: we were frightened that we would lose our will or enter into unpleasant acts." Diary of Anais Nin

felon "I was surprised to see this notorious felon become a regular at our bible discussion classes." Rabbi Myron David. A Chaplain's Jail Tales (adapted!

ferment "She herself yearned for calm, but lived in a neighborhood of ferment and daily chaos." Alan Lelchuk. American Mischief

336

fervid 'Tm a mixture of my mother's determination and my father's fervid optimism." Gwen Robyns. Light of A Star

fetish "Today the automobile has become a fetish for one's standing and accomplishments." Mark Twain, Autobiography

fetters "The cruel fetters of the galley slaves were wet with blood." Alex Haley, Roots

fiasco "Your $25 contribution to our fund will bring you an hilarious tape of the _fiasco of an elementary school's production of 'Peter Pan.'" Public Broadcasting Announcement, 12/25/98

fiat "Pitching Coach Bob Apodaca's fiat to Met hurlers was simple: pitch fast. change speeds, throw strikes." Howie Rose. baseball announcer. Fox Sports, 7/8/99

flabbergasted "The President was flabbergastedwhen his private office recorded conversations were made public." Herbert Brucker. Journalist

flagrant "Gene Savoy's _flagrant name dropping doesn't seem to bother any of the visitors on board." Brad Wetzler. "Crazy for Adventure," New York Times, 6/6/99

flamboyant "Dame Judi Dench is not as flambo~Jant as the other British theatrical Dames such as Vanessa Redgrave or Maggie Smith." Playbill. Vol. 9. No. 55

flay "There is no shortage of critics who flay the journalists for being sensation seekers rather than news gatherers." Herbert Brucker, Journalist

fledgling "Women's professional basketball, recently a _fledgling sport, has taken root and grown into a major spectator event." Sports,9/14/99

flout "His ideas frightened the farmers. for he would flout and ridicule their traditional

PANORAMA OF WORDS

beliefs with a mocking logic that they could not answer." S. Raja Ratnam. "Drought"

fluctuated "He fluctuated between mindless talk and endless silence." Alix Shulman, "Memoirs of an Ex-Prom Queen"

foist "Eventually, advertisements began to foist off the use of perfume as a way to snare a man." E. S. Turner, The Shocking History of Advertising [adapted]

foment "The petitioners were not attempting to foment violence by their peaceful actions." Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, decision, 1960

forthwith "Get down to your Toyota dealer forthwith and take advantage of our holiday saleabration." Toyota advertisement, CBS TV

fortuitous "Representative Foley resumed a corridor interview, making a point about the fortuitous beauty of bipartisanship." Francis X. Clines, "Gun Control Debate," New York Times, 6/18/99

fracas "Once the will was read. there followed a fracas that involved numerous law suits andlasted years." Fortune, 2/16/91

fractious "The fractious couple received a tongue lashing from Judge Judy." Arnold Feigenbaum. "Television Justice?"

frail "Thisfrail woman has the strength to work where the strong turn away." "Mother Teresa," New Republic, 10/16/97

fraught "Ev'ry sigh comes forth so fraught with sweets, Tis incense to be offered to a god." Nathaniel Lee, The Rival Queens

fray "To the latter end of a fray and the beginning of a feast. Fits a dull fighter and a keen guest." William Shakespeare, Henry N

frenetic "There is no place more frenetic than a newspaper office when a major story is breaking." Herbert Brucker, Journalist

frenzy "They had a sense of the wildest adventure, which mounted to frenzy, when some men rose on the shore and shouted to them, 'Hello, there! What are you doing with that boat?'" William Dean Howells. A Boy's Town

fretful "When Mike Nichols directed Who's Mraid of Virginia Woolf?' Warner Bros. was fretful, worrying about the Legion of Decency." Liz Smith, "Century's Choice," New York Post, 6/23/99

frugal "He was famouslyfrugal-'so tight he damn near squeaked' says a colleague." Eric Pooley, "How George Got His Groove," TIME, 6/21/99

fruitless "Since launching a diplomatic shuttle, the Russian envoy had spent dozens of fruitless hours with the Yugoslav dictator." Johanna McGeary, "Why He Blinked," TIME, 6/14/99

frustrated "I will not be frustrated by reality." Ray Bradbury, Forever and the Earth

fulsome "I was appreciative of his sincere and fulsome praise." Ruth McKinney, "A Loud Sneer for Our Feathered Friends"

furtive "Hogan directed afurtive glance up and down the alley." John Steinbeck. "How Mr. Hogan Robbed a Bank"

futility "Resistance to changes in English language rules often ends in futility . " Bill Bryson, Mother Tongue

galvanize "While he could not galvanize an audience, he could make them think." George Jean Nathan, House of Satan

gamut "At one end of the gamut of slang's humor is what Oliver Wendell Holmes called

337

PANORAMA OF WORDS

'the blank checks of a bankrupt mind.'" Bergen Evans, "Now Everyone is Hip About Slang"

garbled "A garbledaccount of the matter that had reached his colleagues led to some gentle ribbing." H. G. Wells, 'The Man Who Could Work Miracles"

garrulous 'The more he drank, the more garrulous he became, until he suddenly seemed to fade out." Lawrence O'Brien, W. c. Fields

gaudy '1llis computer drawing program permits children to express themselves in the most gaudy art they can imagine." Working Mother, 5/96

gaunt "Her gauntexpression was mistaken for weakness of spirit, whereas it told the sad story of her life." George Eliot, Middle March

genocide .. Accounts of the destruction of masses of people recall that genocide is an ancient practice." Otto Friedrich, Before the Deluge

genre "There is a certain difference between a work called a romance and the genre known as the novel." Nathaniel Hawthorne

germane "In assigning ratings to films, is it not germane to consider the nature and extent of violence shown?" The HoUywood Reporter, 5/19/97

gesticulating .. Three times' was still all he could say, in his thick, angry voice, ·gesticulating at the commissaire and glaring at

me." Francis Steegmuller, "The Foreigner"

gist "The gistof it is ... love is a great beautifier." Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

gleaned "I gleanedwhat I could from college, but independent reading soon broad-

338

ened my horizons." I. F. Stone, Weekly Reader

glib "It is not glib to maintain that truth can never be contained in one creed." Mary Augusta Ward, Robert Elsmere

gratuity "What form of gratuitywould compensate his informer's key bit of information?" Dashiell Hammett, Red Harvest

gregariousness "We will take with us one thing alone that exists among porpoises as among men; an ingrained gregariousness" Loren Eiseley, "Man and Porpoise"

grimace "When informed of the death of his best friend, he was unemotional, not a grimace marred his face." James Jones, The

Thin Red Line

grotesque "Nowadays, men have to work, and women to many for money; it's a dreadfully grotesque world." Louisa May Alcott. Little Women

guise "Freedom is not worth fighting for, if, under its guise one tries to get as much as he can for himself." Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Seasoned Timber

gullible '"Charles the horse wa~ wonderful!'· cried a gullible goose." James Thurber, "What Happened to Charles"

gusto "Ali faced each fight with supreme confidence and challenged his opponents with wit and gusto" "His Greatest Challenge," Sports Illustrated, 5/5/97

habitat "Billy begins to be happy about life only in an artificial but cozy habitat on another planet." William Bly, Barron's Book Notes, Slaughterhouse Five ·by Kurt Vonnegut

halcyon 'The halcyon days we recall with pleasure had many clouded moments." Wolcott Gibbs, New Yorker, 4/8/49

PANORAMA OF WORDS

hapless "Parents, too, have an almost irresistible impulse to mold their children in their own image or at least graft a few of their own ambitions onto their hapless offspring." Arthur Gordon, "The Neglected Art of Being Different"

harassing "Over the next weeks came more amendments and harassing tactics including a motion to postpone selection of a new capital." Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years

harbingers "It is easy enough to find harbingers of the episode in the early coverage of Mrs. Dole's candidacy." TIME, 5/24/99

haven "The desire to escape the city has filtered down into every other economic group, and as a result of the suburb's popularity, that haven of refuge is itself filling up." Lewis Mumford, "The Roaring Traffic's Boom"

havoc "Excessive sensitiveness plays havoc with children's nerves." Guy De Maupassant, "Looking Back"

heinous "All crimes against a whole people are measured by the heinous ones carried out by Hitler." Civilization, 12/99

heresy "Calvin had written that heresy was not an evil, deserving death." Herbert Brucker, Journalist

heterogeneous "The family is heterogeneous enough to make quite a good party in itself." Rose Macauley, The World My Wilderness

hirsute "The difference between this rock concert and one 10 years earlier is the marked decrease in hirsute young men." TIME, 8/8/99

histrionics "Bobby Valentine's histrionics will be irrelevant, because Rule 51 states that any manager who is ejected must

remain in the clubhouse until the game is over." Jack Curry, "Valentine is Suspended and Fined," New York Times, 6/11/99

hoard "Many people give freely of their affections while you hoard yours." Joseph Conrad, Victory

hoax "Frank Spencer, an anthropologist who rummaged through the bones of controversy to theorize about the identity of the mastermind behind the Piltdown Man hoax of 1912, died on Sunday." Obituary notice, New York Times, 6/12/99

homogeneous "Archaeologists have unearthed evidence showing that the people of ancient Egypt were far from a homogeneous civilization." Brian Fagan, Time Detective

hostile "He might commit some hostile act, attempt to strike me or choke me." Jack London, White Fang

humility "Early in life I had to choose between arrogance and humility; I chose arrogance." Frank Lloyd Wright

hyperbole "It is not hyperbole to state that, most terribly, justice and judgment lie often a world apart." Emmeline Pankhurst, My Own Story

iconoclast "He was an iconoclast about everything, except his love of money." Garry Wills.. syndicated newspaper column. 3/8/79

idyllic "The brilliant Hawaiian sunrise beckons you to a great breakfast as your tour of the idyllic islands begins." Brochure for Perillo Tours

ignominious "Henry Clay had ambition to become president. but he faced an ignominious series of setbacks." H. Foner, Failed Candidates

339

PANORAMA OF WORDS

ilk '"That's the standard line,' Ron said. 'as promoted by some Japanese businessmen and American spokesmen of their ilk.' .. Michael Crichton. Rising Sun

imbibe "I got up and went downstairs and into the kitchen to imbibe my first cup of coffee before going to the barn." Glenway Wescott. The Breath of Bulls

imminent "I admired the easy confidence with which my chief loped from side to side of his wheel and trimmed the ship so closely that disaster seemed ceaselessly imminent." Mark 1\vain, Life on the Mississippi

impeccable "That is why the so-called 'better' juvenile books. skillfully constructed. morally sanitary, psychologically impeccable-don't really make much of a dent on the child's consciousness." Clifton Fadiman, "My Life is an Open Book"

impede "Judge Jones has become known for her anger at defense lawyers who try to impede executions through legal maneuvers... David Firestone, "Death Penalty Conference," New York Times. 8/19/99

imperative "But unlike the others. Mrs. Hassan had yet another imperative: her son Huseyin has leukemia and needs blood." Edmund L. Andrews, "I Cannot Die," New York Times, 8/19/99

imperceptibly "In the two decades since W. Ugams had come to Boston, his status had imperceptibly shifted.'' John Updike, New Yorker, 10/22/60

imperturbable "The Prince de Ligne had given the Empress Catherine the name of imperturbable, or immoveable... Walter Tooke, The Life of Catherine

impetuous "He displayed the impetuous vivacity of youth... Samuel Johnson, ''The Rambler" No. 27

340

impious ''The Sunis regard the Shias as impious heretics." Matthew Arnold. Essays in Criticism

implacable "It seemed folly for this young man to hope to create a self-supporting farm in such an implacable environment. .. Leland Stowe, Crusoe of Lonesome Lake

implored "No beggars implored Scrooge to bestow a trifle. no children asked him what it was o'clock." Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol

importuned "Many businessmen were importuned to come to Washington... John McDonald. On Capitol Hill

impresario "He was an egregious impresario of letters who kept a squad of writers churning out copy marketed under his signature.'' C. J. Rolo. No Business Like Show Business [adapted)

impromptu "At an impromptu airport news conference, Gov. Bush declined to respond directly to questions about his experience with drugs ... Associated Press Report. "Next Question. Please," 6/5/99

imprudent "We are not so imprudent as to destroy the bees that work for us ... Robert Tanner. Principles of Agriculture

impunity "Swaraj means that not a single Hindu or Mussulman shall for a moment crush with impunity meek Hindus or Mussulmans." Mohandas K. Gandhi. ''The Untouchables"

inadvertently "In our report on NASCAR RACING. we inadvertently attributed a quote to Doris O'Bryant." Correction made by TIME editors, 6/21/99

inane "When left with nothing to talk about, people resort to inane remarks about the weather... Lawrence Kaminer. "A World of Strangers"

PANORAMA OF WORDS

inanimate "We assumed that the inanimate body in the rubble was dead but the dog, trained to distinguish between live and dead bodies, knew better." Stephen Kinzer, "Turkish Earthquake Relief," New York Times. 8/21/99

incapacitated "His searing empathy for the parents of incapacitated clients is a product of the still-raw pain over the 1980 suicide of his younger brother." Jan Hoffman, "Public Lives," New York Times, 6/18/99

inchoate "The general plan is inchoate and incoherent and the particular treatments disconnected." Hillary Corke, Global Economy

incipient "As columnist Jack Anderson was about to write about the Secretary of State's incipient departure, AI Haig panicked." William Safire, "On Language," New York Times, 6/20/99

incisive "Your hands are keen, your mind incisive, your sensitivity deep, ·your vision well honed." Thomas A. Dooley, "To a Young Doctor"

inclement "The inclement weather that has given us fits recently is over, and I'm looking for blue skies for all of next week." Weather forecast from ABC's Sam Champion, Eyewitness News, 6/23/99

incoherent "So seldom do editors get what they think they want that they tend to become incoherent in their insistent repetition of their needs." Jerome Weidman, "Back Talk"

incompatible "Once men tried to reach heaven by building a tower, and I made their formats incompatible." Garrison Keillor, "Faith at the Speed of Light." TIME, 6/14/99

incongruous "He was clothed with tatters of old ship's canvas: and this extraordinary patchwork was held together by a system of

various and incongruous fastenings." Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

incontrovertible "The Wilsons lived in a universe of words linked into an incontrovertible firmament by two centuries of Calvinist divines." John Dos Passos, U.S.A.

incredulous "The Nazi war on cancer?other readers may be as incredulous as I was when this book came to my attention." Michael Sherry, New York Times, 5/23/99

incumbent "As a Muslim, the Director of Interfaith Affairs for the Islamic Center said that it is incumbent on him to actively engage others in the service of Allah." Jioni Palmer, "Vigil to Address Growing Violence," Newsday, 10/10/99

indict "You can't indict a whole nation, particularly on such vague grounds as these were." Robert M. Coates, "The Law"

indifference "David sees Ham who, although now shows indlfference to life, swims out to save people from a shipwreck." Holly Hughes, Barron's Book Notes, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

indigenous "A MacArthur Foundation grant was given to Dennis A. Moore for helping to preserve the language and culture of indigenous groups in Brazil." Announcement of MacArthur Grants. 6/23/99

indigent "The bill would make modest improvements in the way that counsel is provided for indigent defendants." Bob Herbert, "Defending the Status Quo." New York Times, 6/17/99

indiscriminate "The indiscriminate spraying of pesticides add a new chapter, a new kind of havoc." Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

indoctrinated "Teachers have indoctrinated students in practical subjects like home ec."

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PANORAMA OF WORDS

Jodie Morse, "Hitched in Home Room," TIME, 6/21/99

indolent "This indolent weather turns a student's thoughts toward last-minute truancy." Darcy Frey, "The Last Shot"

inebriated "Red Skelton's inebriated clown who was guzzling Smuggler's Gin is one of the all-time great comedy sketches." Paul De Simone, "They Made Us Laugh" [adapted]

ineffectual "Medicare officials told the White House that the proposed drug plan is unrealistic and would be ineffectuaL" Robert Pear, "Drug Plan Worries Democrats," New York Times, 6/25/99

inert "The Japanese drifted inert in his life jacket watching 449 approach until the bow crossed in front of him." Robert J. Donovan, PT 109

inevitable "The 'High Occupancy Vehicle' lanes were an attempt to avoid the otherwise inevitable traffic delays on the Expressway." Newsday, 9/23/99

inexorably "Note that it is all in one long sentence, developing inexorably like the slow decay of our lives." Clifton Fadiman, "They Have Their Exits and Their Entrances"

infallible "He had an infallible ear for the way people spoke, and he imitated them in his writing." Reader's Encyclopedia

infamous "The unsubstantiated computer rumors for which the Internet is infamous began flowing within hours of the arrival of Jan. 1 in Asia." Barnaby Feder, "Internet's Cheering Squad Nervously Watches Clock," New York Times, 1/1/00

infraction "Order cannot be secured through fear of punishment for an irifraction

342

against a political entity." Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, decision,10/64

ingratiate 'This tax was abolished by Richard III to ingratiate himself with the people." Sir Francis Bacon, Henry VII

inherent "Harvey lacked graduate degrees but his inherent knowledge of human nature enabled him to be successful as a personnel manager." "Rungs on the Corporate Ladder," American Management Association brochure

inhibition "With all this 'inhibition' stuff and Freudian approach and 'group play,' you get the distinct impression that people are actually afraid of their kids." William Michelfelder, The Fun of Doing Nothing

iniquity "I lack iniquity Sometime to do me service." William Shakespeare, Othello

initiate "The Russian army seems ready to initiate a new offensive against the defenders of the capital of Chechnya." New York Post, 1/10/00

innate "Nothing makes the weak strong or the fearful brave as much as our bodies' innate drive to stay alive." William Saftre, "Why Die?," New York Times, 1/1/00

innocuous "Howell's seemingly innocuous remark about Tanya's footware led to a torrent of curses from the petite brunette." George Sokolsky, "Very Thin Ice"

inordinate "Was it, perhaps, because his back had broken under his inordinate burden?" I. L. Peretz, "Buntcheh the Silent"

insatiable "One needs an insatiable curiosity to succeed in the new technical worldwide spread of information." Jared Diamond, "Guns, Germs, and Steel"

insidious "For them, civilization is an insidious but no less sure and deadly poison." Hernando Bates, Central America

PANORAMA OF WORDS

integral "Let Office 2000 be an integral part of your productivity tools." Newspaper ad for Microsoft Office 2000

interjected 'The accountant interjected. saying that you can buy a better house in New Jersey than on Long Island for the same money." Ken Moritsugu. "Nowhere to Build," Newsday. 6/25/99

interlopers "Indeed, the magazine managers are treated as foreign interlopers." Michael Woolf. "Tribune and Tribulation," New York. 7/5/99

interminably "In his clean white shirt and blue jeans. with one hand resting carelessly on the black box, he seemed very proper and important as he talked interminably to Mr. Graves and the Martins." Shirley Jackson, "The Lottery"

internecine "Eight thousand zealots stabbed each other in internecine massacre." L. H. Farrar, Early Christians

interrogate "The District Attorney of Nassau County is set to interrogate a Malverne police officer who was arrested on shoplifting charges." Associated Press report, New York Times, 8/20/99

intimidate "New language could target loiterers with no apparent purpose other than to intimidate others from entering those areas." Margaret Hornblower, "Ending the Roundups," TIME. 6/21/99

intrepid "Scientists and support staff began celebrating the new year along with a planeload of tourists and seven intrepid skiers." Malcolm Browne, "Absence of Midnight Doesn't Darken Spirits," New York Times, 1/1/00

intrinsic "We appear to have lost the belief that honesty is an intrinsic aspect of political leadership." Editorial, Christian Science Monitor, 5/17/98

introspective "All had the thin. narrow faces and large, wide-open eyes-introspective eyes." Ivan Cankar, "Children and Old Folk"

inundated "We do know that the moon's surface has not been eroded by wind or rain or ice or snow and has not been inundated by oceans. lakes or rivers." Lee A. DuBridge, "Sense and Nonsense About Space"

invalidate "Some Reagan and Bush appointees have proved far too willing to invalidate decisions made by Congress and the Executive branch." Cass R. Sunstein, New York Times, 6/2/99

invective "I watched him walk into the clubhouse. kick a bench and break a toe, never once stopping the flow of invective." Jack Altshul, "Why Should the Other Guy Beat Me?"

inveighed "The County Executive inveighed against scofflaws who owe a total of $60 million." Television news broadcast, CBS, 6/23/99

inveterate 'The inveterate Boston Red Sox fan faces seemingly endless disappointment." Peter Balakian, "Black Dogs of Fate"

inviolable 'The coach broke an inviolable rule by striking one of his players." Don DeLillo, End Zone

irascible "He became so irascible that within six months he lost his wife and half of his office staff." Herman Wouk. Don't Stop the Carnival

irate "I got irate because people have been yelling at me my whole life." Olivia Winslow. "Cop Tells of a Confession," Newsday. 6/23/99

irrational "He became irrational and threatened to commit suicide." Darcy Frey, 'The Last Shot"

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PANORAMA OF WORDS

irrelevant "What has existed in the past seems to him not only not authoritative. but irrelevant. inferior. and outworn." George Santayana. Character and Opinion in the United States

itinerant "Hamlet greeted the group of itinerant actors and made them part of a plan to trap Claudius." Barron's Educational Series, Book Notes

jaunty "The cadet was very trim in his red breeches and blue tunic, his white gloves spotless, his white cockade jaunty. his heart in his mouth." Alexander Woolcott. "Entrance Fee"

jeopardized "Cancellation of the event would have jeopardized the financial survival of the organization." Nat Hentoff, "Picket Lines are Labor's Free Speech," Village Voice, 6/15/99

jettison "He refused to jettison any of the manners and behavior that made him seem so odd." William Connor. Daily Mirror, London, 1956

jocose "He caught the sound of jocose talk and ringing laughter from behind the hedges." George Eliot. Adam Bede

jostled "When the squeege man jostled him, the police officer said that he feared for his life." Kit Roane, "Squeege Man Scared Him," New York Times, 6/25/99

jubilant "When he finally reached Boston. he received a jubilant welcome." Keith Ayling, "Race Around the World"

jurisdiction "Lee's jurisdiction included the monitoring of boxing within New Jersey." Timothy Smith, "A Sport's Credibility," New York Times, 6/20/99

juxtaposed "Theatrical vignettes are juxtaposed through alternating verses in clever

344

boy-girl counterpoint." "Hot 'N Cole." Newsday. 6/4/99

labyrinth ··He himself was so lost in the labyrinth of his own unquiet thoughts that I did not exist." Daphne Du Maurier. Rebecca

lacerations "He pressed only the already tired horse at such speed that his spurs made lacerations in its sides. and at last the poor animal died." Honore De Balzac. A Passion in the Desert

lackluster "The major reason for the lackllL<>ter look in their eyes was their discovery it is now possible to drive across the face of the nation without feeling you've been anywhere or that you've done anything." John Keats. "The Call of the Open Road"'

laconic "The dialogue is clipped. laconic. understated to convey simmering underneath." John Simon. "The Worst Noel." New York, 6/21/99

lampoon "Many new TV shows succeed because they lampoon the behavior of teenagers." John Leonard. New York. 10/15/97

landmarks 'The remarkable trees formed good landmarks by which the place might easily be found again." Washington Irving. 'The Devil and Tom Walker"

largess "A largess universal like the sun. His liberal eye doth give to every one." William Shakespeare. Henry IV

lassitude "To poets it's vernal lassitude but to us it's simply spring fever." Brochure. Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce

latent "All our latent strength was now alive." Winston Churchill. Their Finest Hour

laudable "American historians. in their eagerness to present facts and their laudable anxiety to tell the truth, have neglocted

PANORAMA OF WORDS

the literary aspects of their craft." Samuel Eliot Morrison, By Land and by Sea

lax "The fact that his employer was lax on this score was one of many things that he had to condone." Henry James, "Brooksmith"

legerdemain "Federal investigators pursuing money-laundering schemes are concerned with alleged acts of legerdemain by Russian banks." Tim L. O'Brien, "Bank in Laundering Inquiry," New York Times, 8/20/99

legion "Though not Hollywood handsome, Tommy's success with the fair sex was legion." Janet Murphy, "Babylon on the Hudson"

lethal "By evening we couldn't even get any more people indoors where they would have had some protection from the lethal fallout." Florence Moog, "The Bombing of St. Louis"

lethargic "Ricky Henderson's lethargic stroll toward second base led the sports reporters to blast him in yesterday's papers." Ralph Kiner, baseball announcer, Fox Sports News, 10/4/99

levity "There was something about the company's president that made levity seem out of place." Lloyd Sperling, A Boiler Room Operation

libel "Issues such as freedom of speech and libel are going to have to be rethought as the Internet makes everyone a potential publisher in cyberspace." Thomas L. Friedman, "Boston E-Party," New York Times, 1/1/00

liquidation "Hiding the forty-six comrades who were scheduled for liquidation became much easier." David Hackett, The Buchenwald Report

lithe "Tasteless headlines screamed 'Newtie's Cutie' to describe the lithe hymn-

singing young staff member who inexplicably fell for her portly Newt." Robert Reno, "Political Garbage," Newsday, 8/19/99

livid "Livid with anger, the poster boy for road rage jumped out of his red convertible and came running toward us." Letter to the Editor, "Big Road Hazard," Newsday, 8/19/99

loath "Still I am loath simply to join the conspiracy." "The Happy-Parents Conspiracy," New York Times, 5/23/99

loathing "He had braced himself not to become entangled in her loathing for him." Phillip Roth, American Pastoral

longevity "The longevity of metal parts is increased by this new process." Report, General Motors Corporation

lucrative "Very quickly it became a surprisingly lucrative property." David McCullough, The Great Bridge

lugubrious "Lugubrious notices on the passing of old friends were a feature of the local paper." TIME, 8/20/99

lurid "We thought the rookie's tale was too lurid to be believed, but it turned out to be true." Chuck Cavanna, Life in the Minors

lush "Can one run for political office without the promise of lush campaign contributions from many sources?" "Steve Forbes; In His Own Debt," Parade, 9/15/99

Machiavellian "Is there any clearer example of Machiavellian plotting than that of Iago in 'Othello'?" John Simon, Reverse Angle

magnanimous "There was no way he was going to be magnanimous and share this prized baseball with anyone who claimed a share of the glory." Don DeLillo, Underworld

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maimed "Films in which characters are maimed or destroyed seem to be most popular with today's youngsters." Harold Owen, Jr., "The Motion Picture"

maladjusted "The natural assumption is that the teenage killers at Columbine H.S. were maladjusted youngsters but some neighbors denied that." Letters to the Editor. Washington Po.>t, 7 I 14/99

malady "Homesickness can be a disease as trivial as a slight cold or it can be a deadly malady." Z. Libin, "A Sign of Summer"

malevolent "Our military action against the malevolent head of the Serbian government has finally ended." Newsweek. 4/8/99

malign "His chosen weapon is the verbal hand grenade by which he can outrage and malign." Kenneth Tynan. "On Don Rickles," New Yorker. 2/20/78

malignant "The wailing chorus turned into a malignant clamor that swirled into my ears like an icy breeze." Kenneth Roberts, Oliver Wiswell

malleable "Is the mayor able to change from an apparently rigid personality to one more malleable to differences?" Alec Kuczynski, "The Mayor's Makeover." New York Times Magazine, 8/1/99

malnutrition "The children of the Albanian refugees are suffering from malnutrition. and they need our help." Red Cross Appeal for Funds

mammoth "She began to repair the ravages made by generosity added to love-a tremendous task. dear friends-a mammoth task." 0. Henry, "The Gift of the Magi"

mandate "With a federal mandate to convert to digital broadcasting by 2003, public 1V stations are facing large capital expenditures." Ellis Bromberg, "Federal Money Vital

346

to Progress of PBS," The News Gazette. Champaign-Urbana, 10/21/99

manifest "English is one of the great borrowing languages. more manifest in the origin of so many of our words." Bill Bryson, Mother Tongue

manifold "China's Xinhua News Agency treated manifold claims of procedural error with disbelief." "Trying to Build Bridg s in China," TIME. 6/28/99

martinet "The prospect of having to talk to Sheila's principal. a real martinet. made him nervous, but he steeled himself to do it." John Yount, "The Trapper's Last Shot"

masticate "Trying to masticate a huge hamburger with an open mouth is a no-no." Advice from Ms. Manners, syndicated columnist, 6/4/98

mastiffs "That island of England breeds very valiant creatures: their mastWs are of unmatchable courage." William Shakespeare. Henry V

materialism "Democracy always makes for materialism. because the only kind of equality that you can guarantee to a whole people is physical." Katherine F. Gerould, Modes and Morals

matrons "For ladies they had the family of the American consul and a nice bevy of English girls and matrons. perhaps Lady Hamilton herself." Edward Everett Hale, The Man Without a Country

maudlin "Uncle Billy passed rapidly into a state of stupor, the Duchess became maudlin •. and Mother Shipton snored." Bret Harte, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat"

megalomania "Charlie desperately wanted Armaxco to lease space in what so far was the worst mistake of his career. the soaring monster that his megalomania led him to

PANORAMA OF WORDS

call Croker Concourse." Tom Wolfe, A Man in Full

mendacious "Hillary joined in efforts to dismiss as mendacious tarts all the women who claimed to have been involved with her husband." Maureen Dowd, "The Boy Can't Help It," New York Times, 8/4/99

menial "It is difficult to visualize the numbers of menial laborers required to build the famous Egyptian pyramids." E. A. Wallis Budge, The Mummy

mentor "To break into the political life of South Africa, one needed a highly placed mentor." Nadine Gordimer, Face to Face

mercenary "We all like money . . . but Dickens surpassed most in a mercenary approach to his writings." G. K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens

metamorphosis "For nearly a year, the dauber, undergoing metamorphosis, inhabits its silken dung-stoppered cocoon inside the mud cell." Alan Devoe, "The Mad Dauber"

meticulous "Even later, in 1992, Barnstead's meticulous records allowed researchers to put names on six previously unidentified TJtantc survivors." "Titanic and Halifax," The Nova Scotia Museum

mien "He had the mien of a man who has been everywhere and through everything." Arnold Bennett, The Old Wives Tale

milieu "In the milieu of a heated baseball championship contest, tickets are being sold at highly inflated prices." New York Post, 10/10/99

modified "Some schools claimed that the standard test was a lot harder than a modified version." Ching-Cheng Ni, "Fewer Rumbles on Earth Test," Newsday, 6/23/99

mollify "The mayor attempted to mollify his critics by pointing to the increased safety 1n the city." New York Daily News, 8/15/99

monolithic "Gertrude Stein was a stolid, heavy presence, monolithic, unladylike." Liz Smith, "When Love Was the Adventure," TIME, 6/14/99

moribund "After being moribund for years, interest in electric automobiles has revived." Car and Driver, 6/97

mortality "Socrates loves talk of fundamental things, of justice and virtue and wisdom and love and mortality." Hermann Hagedorn, Socrates-His Life

mortify 'The comparisons between her sister's beauty and her own no longer would mortify her." Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

motivate "The loss of our star quarterback seemed to motivate the team to play even harder." Bill Parcells quoted in Sports Illustrated. 9 I 12/98

mundane "Why bother with mundane musings when you can sit on the lawn and build cities out of grass clippings?" Enid Nemy, "The World is Her Cloister," New York Times, 6/20/99

munificent "His munificent gift will enable us to place computers in all the elementary schools." Newsday. 6/20/98

murky "Mud dumping from the bottom of Long Island has created a murky picture." "Fishermen's Woes," Newsday, 6/22/99

myriad "Genius is not born with sight, but blind: it is influenced by a myriad of stimulating exterior circumstances." Mark Twain, "Saint Joan of Arc"

nadir "He knew he had reached the nadir of his baseball career when they sent him to a

347

PANORAMA OF WORDS

minor league team." Roger Kahn, The Boys of Summer

na"ive "Woodrow Wilson was nai·ve to believe Yugoslavia could be formed after World War 1." Letter to the Editor, New Yorker, 6/26/99

nascent !he once nascent Women's National Basketball Association has arrived and is healthy and prosperous." New York Times, 7 I 17/99

nebulous "There is a nebulous line between confidence and over-confidence." Editorial, Wall Street Journal. 4/8/99

nefarious "A nefarious employee can still download secret weapons information to a tape, put it in his pocket and walk out the door." William Safire, "Culture of Arrogance," New York Times, 6/ 17/99

negligible "These politicians have voted themselves a big pay raise for the negligible amount of work they do... The Queens Tribune,8/6/98

nepotism "Political allies and family members filled government jobs as nepotism flourished." Paul Alter, This Windy City

nettled "He was pretty well nettled by this time, and he stood in front of a bureau mirror, brushing his hair with a pair of military brushes ... James Thurber, "More Alarms at Night"

neurotic "We shall lose all our power to cope with our problem if we allow ourselves to become a stagnant, neurotic, frightened and suspicious people." Walter Lippmann, "The Nuclear Age"

neutralize "The quinine that can neutralize

his venom is called courage." Elmer Davis, But We Were Bom Free

348

nirvana "Nirvana is in putting your child to sleep. and in writing the last line of your poem." Kahlil Gil bran, Sand and Foam

noisome "The noisome conditions in the refugee camps were a disgrace and a danger." Newsday, 8/7/99

nomadic After buying the big trailer, they spent a nomadic year visiting national parks out west." "On the Road Again," Travel Ideas International

nominal "As the nominal head of his party, the governor was courted by all the Sunday morning talk shows." Archer Karnes, "Politics and Poker"

nondescript "Jane Austen can picture ordinary, commonplace and nondescript characters in ways denied to me." Walter Scott. Journal, 1826

nonentity "With sufficient financial backing, almost any political nonentity could become a national contender." Washington Post, 6/15/98

nostalgia "The various objects one picks up just before leaving a foreign country are apt to acquire an extraordinary souvenir-value, giving one a foretaste of distance and nostalgia" Corrado Alvaro, "The Ruby"

nuance "With Minnie Driver adroitly mining each nuance of social primness, Jane is the first Disney cartoon heroine to provide her own comic relief." Richard Corliss, "Him Tarzan, Him Great," TIME, 6/14/99

nullify "Allowing our parks to decay is a sure way to null~fy the beauty given to us by nature." Freeman Tilden, The National Parks

nurtured "The Telecommunications Act of 1996 introduced competition that has nurtured demand for communications generally and for Internet service specifically." Seth

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Schessel. "A Chance to Become Really Big," New York Times, 6/15/99

nutritive "They searched for anything that had nutritive value, but often found nothing." "The Irish Famine," Harpers, 5/73

obese "The rush to lose weight by unproven methods often leads to complications for obese people." Johns Hopkins Health Letter, Summer 1997

obliterate "They went out to smvey the land for a possible railroad, but met with Indians on the warpath and were obliterated." Freeman Tilden, The National Parks (adapted)

obloquy "Hitler and his Nazis showed how evil a conspiracy could be which was aimed at destroying a race by exposing it to contempt, derision, and obloquy." Supreme Court Justice William 0. Douglas. decision, 10/52

obscure "This book has serious purpose even if many will find that purpose obscure." Decision of Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, 11/62

obsequious "and the survivor bound In filial obligation for some term To do obsequious sorrow." William Shakespeare, Hamlet

obsess "To obsess over acquisitions is especially damaging to human felicity." Llewelyn Powys. Earth Memories

obsolescence "Mter five centuries of obsolescence, Roman numerals still exert a peculiar fascination over the inquiring mind." Isaac Asimov, "Nothing Counts"

obviate "Modest pre-emptive acting can obviate the need for more drastic actions at a later date that could destabilize the economy." Alan Greenspan, quoted in New Jersey Star Ledger, 5/6/99

occult "Somehow, horror films have changed from one main figure who threatens a town or young women, to occult spirits that take over a normal human for unknown reasons." Pauline Kael, I Lost It at the Movies

octogenarian "Octogenarian film and stage director Elia Kazan received a mixed reception when he came up to collect his Lifetime Achievement Award." Associated Press report, 4/7/98

ominous "There was a Sabbath lull in the air, which. in a settlement unused to Sabbath influences. looked ominous." Bret Harte, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat"

omnipotent "In those comic strips there was always a cruel and omnipotent villain." Letter, New York Times, 9/13/99

omnivorous "He became an omnivorous reader of the classics." T. S. Lovering, Child Prodigies

opprobrium "General Sherman is still viewed with opprobrium in these parts of the South he once destroyed." Edmund Wilson, Patriotic Gore

opulent "Poirot followed him, looking with appreciation at such works of art as were of an opulent and florid nature." Agatha Christie, "The Dream"

originated "The early Egyptian rulers, in order to stop the practice of cannibalism, originated the method that protected the dead-mummification." E. A. Wallis Budge, The Mummy

ostensibly "The race was ostensibly to test the reliability of the automobiles." Keith Ayling, The Race Around the World

ostentatious "He affected simplicity, partly because he was ugly. but more because being ostentatious might have irritated

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PANORAMA OF WORDS

those of whom he always spoke of as 'my fellow citizens.· " Emil Ludwig, Michelangelo

oust "Politics will still exist as in the Republican campaign to oust Bill Clinton." James Pinkerton, "Mediocre Pols," Newsday, 6/17/99

overt "It is peculiarly shocking that Brutus practices overt self-deception." Harold Bloom, Shakespeare

pall .. A pall had descended upon Mr. Timberlake, and I understood why he did not talk to me about the origin of evil." V. S. Pritchett, "The Saint"

palliate "Reducing the testosterone would palliate the cancer, the oncologist believed, but it wouldn't be a cure." Dr. MeiV)'ll Elliot, "Medicine in the News"

paltry "Marvin was baffled by the paltry amount of money the widow was asking for her husband's elegant Rolls Royce." Barnett Lesser, "One Man's Will"

panaceas "Mrs. Clinton said that she was in Rochester to listen and learn not to offer panaceas for all civic problems." Associated Press report, "Pre-Campaign Strategy," 9/9/99

pandemonium "Then, summoning the wild courage of despair, in pandemonium, a throng of revellers at once threw themselves into the black apartment." Edgar Allan Poe, "The Masque of the Red Death"

parable "When I had trouble keeping the kindergarten class quiet. I found that telling them a parable (the tortoise and the hare, for example) would get their undivided attention." Lana L. Grossberg, A Teacher's True Confessions

paradox "Here was a paradox like the stellar universe that fitted one's mental faults."

350

Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams

paragon "An angel! or, if not An earthly paragonf' William Shakespeare, Cymbeline

paramount "For him, winning was paramount coming in second meant he had swum a poor race." Len Sussman, "Born to Swim"

pariahs "Apart from the other castes were the outcasts: India's untouchables, or pariahs." Barbara Walker, Women's Encyclopedia

paroxysms "The coughing did not even come out in paroxysms, but was just a feeble, dreadful welling up of the juices of organic dissolution." Thomas Mann, The Magic Mowttain

parsimonious "His parsimonious thrift was relieved by a few generous impulses." V. L. Parrington, Main Currents in American Thought

passe "Everything old is new again is the theme for the designer's adoption of passe styles and making them fashionable again." Sophia Leguizamo, "New From Milan"

pathetic "He is the latest loser trying to solve his pathetic life behind a gun." Editorial, New York Post, 7/30/99

paucity "In the dictator's best-case scenario, he can hope for continuing control, thanks to a paucity of opponents." Massimo Calabresi, "Is This the End for Milosevic?," TIME, 6/21/99

pecuniary "The most unpleasant thing of all was that his pecuniary interests should enter into the question of his reconciliation with his wife." Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

pedagogue "He is neither bandit nor pedagogue. but, like myself a broken soldier,

PANORAMA OF WORDS

retired on half pay for some years." Stephen Vincent Benet, "The Curfew Tolls"

penance "I have done penance for condemning Love, Whose high imperious thoughts have punished me With bitter fasts, with penitential groans." William Shakespeare, The n.vo Gentlemen of Verona

penchant "Annabel had a penchant for silver fox coats but Midge said they were common." Dorothy Parker, "The Standard of Living"

penitent "When father strode into the coal and ice office, he came out, the penitent clerk with him, promising to deliver a block of ice in time for dinner." Clarence Day, Life with Father

pensive "It was only when he found himself alone in his bedroom in a pensive mood that he was able to grapple seriously with his memories of the occurrence." H. G. Wells, The Man Who Could Work Miracles

penury "Afflicted by penury, it appeared that Putois had joined a gang of thieves who were prowling the countryside." Anatole F'rance, "Putois"

perceive "The subjects, as you perceive, were alarming but very agreeable." Anton Chekhov, "A Slander"

peregrination "Each step he took represented an inward peregrination." Gretel Ehrlich, "On the Road With God's Fool"

peremptory "Mr. Greenspan encouraged his fellow Federal Reserve Board members today to undertake a peremptory attack against inflation." Reuters, "Financial News Letter," 3/99

perfidious "Alfred E. Ricks was the peifulious toad's designation who sold worthless shares in the Blue Gopher Mine." 0. Henry, "The Man Higher Up"

perfunctory "Doc Martindale made a perfunctory examination and told Eli there was nothing to wony about." MacKinlay Kantor, "The Grave Grass Quivers"

permeated "The play is permeated with scriptural imagery, notably a Last Supper." Robert Brustein, New Republic, 6/7/99

pernicious "This chapter exposes a pernicious obstacle to students and teachers engaging in serious work together." Robert L. Fried, The Passionate Teacher

perpetrated "Thanks to Mr. DeLay, we learn that violence perpetrated by gun owners is really the product of larger forces." Editorial, "Mr. DeLay's Power Play," New York Times, 6/20/99

perpetuate "The laws would often do no more than perpetuate a legislator's acts of injustice." Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract

persevered "The Knicks persevered as first Patrick Ewing and then Johnson went down with injuries." George Vecsey, "Sports of the Times," New York Times, 6/22/99

perspicacious "Nobody deserves the Lifetime Achievement Award more than Army Archerd, who is not only perspicacious, but a gentleman as well." Liz Smith, Newsday, 6/2/99

pertinent "What seems pertinent is to observe that jazz gravitated toward a particular kind of environment in which its existence was probable." Arnold Sungaard, Jazz, Hot and Cold

peruse "Stopping to peruse her mail, Raven didn't notice that the front door was ajar." Dolores Kent, Instant Gratification

perverse "There is something contemptible in the prospect of a number of petty states with the appearance only of union, jarring,

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PANORAMA OF WORDS

jealous, and perverse." Alexander Hamilton, speech, 1782

pesky "Oranges down there is like a young man's whiskers; you enjoy them at first, but they get to be a pesky nuisance." Ring W. Lardner, "The Golden Honeymoon"

phenomenon "This phenomenon is characterized by a temporary reversal of the normal atmospheric conditions, in which the air near the earth is warmer than the air higher up." Berton Roueche, "The Fog"

phlegmatic "Duncan had a phlegmatic fourth quarter, dooming the Spurs' opportunity to humble the New York Knicks." 1V announcer, NBA Finals, 6/22/99

phobia "My phobia was such that the slightest touch produced twinges of pain." Guy De Maupassant, "Looking Back"

pinnacle "Their little barber-shop quartet reached the pinnacle of their career with a first-place finish on Major Bowes' 'Amateur Hour.' " David and Marge Buchanan, "No Business Like You Know What"

pique "In a fit of pique he raised his pistol to take aim at me but Masha threw herself at his feet." Aleksandr Pushkin, "The Shot"

pittance "To be paid a mere pittance and yet to be suspected of theft; never in her life had she been subjected to such an outrage." Anton Chekhov, "An Upheaval"

placards "Yet a mile away at the ultraorthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood, wall placards now warn residents not to have Internet-linked computers in their homes." Thomas Friedman, "All in the Family," New York Times, 6/22/99

plaintiff "When the attorney for the palsied plaintiff finished, there wasn't a dry eye in the courtroom." Rose Axelsohn, 'The Defense Rests" [adapted!

352

platitudes "The topic was, 'What Is Life?' and the students labored at it busily with their platitudes." Philip Roth, American Pastoral

plethora "SUFFERERS CONFRONT A PLE.l'HORA OF POLLEN" Headline, New York Times, 6/5/99

plight "I had the sense that his loneliness was not merely the result of his personal plight." Edith Wharton, Ethan Frome

poignant "Keen, poignant agonies seemed to shoot from his neck downward through every fiber of his body and limbs." Ambrose Bierce, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"

pondered "As I made my way back, I pondered the significance of what I'd seen." Nicholas Kristof, "1492: The Prequel"

potent "Those huge differences in income found in our society must have potent causes." Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs. and Steel

potentates "The racing season at Saratoga invited all manner of society-from potentates to paupers." Lanny Richards. "They're Off!"

potential "We realized that this system had worked because the potential targets were so many that the Germans could not get a definite idea of where we would strike." Ewen Montagu. The Man Who Never Was

potpourri "A potpouni of fresh fruits and cool cottage cheese make for a delicious lunch treat when the temperatures rise into the high 90s." Martha Stewart. CBS News, 5/23/98

pragmatic "His conservative approach to investing has made millions of dollars for those who share Warren Buffet's pragmatic philosophy." "Master of Berkshire-

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Hathaway," Profile of Warren Buffet. New York Times

precedent "One can imagine a time when the voters ignore precedent and elect a woman to the office of President of the United States." Barbara Walker, The Women's Encyclopedia

precipitate "The weight of a finger might precipitate the tragedy, hurl him at once into the dim, gray unknown." Stephen Crane, "An Episode of War"

precluded "I would be avenged: this was a point definitely settled-but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk." Edgar Allan Poe, "The Cask of Amontillado"

precocious "Pediatricians interviewed this week were somewhat divided on the value of 1V viewing by precocious children." Lawrie Miflin, "Tough Rules for 1V," New York Times, 8/4/99

prelude "Bounderby's prelude to his main point was very well received by Mrs. Sparsit who said, 'Very sagacious indeed, sir.·" Charles Dickens. Hard Times

premise "That train of reasoning has all the various parts and terms-its major premise and its conclusion." T. H. Huxley, "We Are All Scientists"

premonition "There seemed to be a gentle stir arising over everything-a very premonition of rest and hush and night." Mary Wilkens Freeman, "The New England Nun"

prerogative "Governor Pataki exercised his prerogative as titular head of the party to endorse Mayor Rudolph Giuliani." Editorial, "Truce Among New York Republicans," New York Times. 8/7/99

prestigious "He had finally reached his present prestigious position of wealth and secu-

rity. and he felt he was entitled to sit back and enjoy his happiness." Ronald Byron. "Happy Days for Harrison Gumedi"

pretext "Our mother had been expressly enjoined by her husband to give Madame Cornouiller some plausible pretext for refusing." Anatole France, "Putois"

prevalent "On the all-news channels the most prevalent images were from a helicopter pursuing the police chase." New York Post, 7/30/99

prevarication "They must honestly swear to this oath without prevarication or reservation." Supreme Court Justice Byron White, speech, 12/ 1/64

privations "It aroused a strong response in our hearts when he told about their sufferings and privations." Selma Lagerlof. Harvest

procrastinated "Mr. Brooksmith procrastinated for several days before accepting my offer." Henry James, "Brooksmith"

prodigious "He knew from the moment he left the ground that it was a prodigious jump." Joseph N. Bell, "The Olympics Biggest Winner"

prodigy "I grant you Clive-Clive was a prodigy. a genius and met the fate of geniuses." Stephen Vincent Benet. "The Curfew Tolls"

proffer "Orin came to prq[[er his condolences when, wonder of wonder. he fell in love with the grieving widow." Terence Cavanaugh, "An Ill Wind"

profligate "Her innocent appearance had a peculiar attraction for a vicious profligate, who had hitherto admired only the coarser types of feminine beauty." Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The Brothers Karamazov

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profound "So why no profound works on the need for $660 million in tax credits for companies that burn chicken droppings?" Editorial, "Tax-Cut Favors," New York Times, 8/7/99

profuse "He offered profuse apologies for his show of exasperation, and he volunteered to read to her, something in French." Aldous Huxley, "The Giaconda Smile"

progeny "First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd: Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, But issued from the progeny of kings." William Shakespeare, Henry N

prognostication "Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication· I cannot scratch my ear." William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra

prohibition "The U.S. public is slowly coming around to accepting the idea that a prohibition against the easy access to hand guns is inevitable." Roger Rosenblatt, "Get Rid of the Damned Things," TIME, 8/9/99

prolific "Isaac Asimov was a truly prolific writer, seemingly able to complete a book every two weeks." Art Nichols, Selling Your Manuscript

promulgated "The rules and regulations are promulgated for the guidance of administrative employees, bureau heads, and supervisors." "Rules and Regulations for Administrative Employees," NYC Board of Education

propagate "The Republican leadership planned to propagate their philosophy for a huge tax cut during the summer recess." Wolf Blitzer, CNN Nightly News, 7 I 14/99

propensity "You had a propensity for telling simple and professional tales before the war." Joseph Conrad, "The Tale"

354

propinquity "It occurred to him that Varick might be talking at random to relieve the strain of their propinquity." Edith Wharton, The Desert of Man

propitious "Sometime later, I will find a propitious ground and bury you there in the same grave." Shen Chunlieh, "In Memory of a Child," 1619

propriety "There is a propriety and necessity of preventing interference with the course of justice." Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, decision, 10/28

proximity "Stryker had built a small cannery in close proximity to the house where the turtles were raised in shallow tanks." Edmund Wilson, "The Man Who Shot Snapping Turtles"

prudent 'Those who thought the prudent thing to do at the end of 1999 was to stay away from flying resulted in the slowest day of the year for every airline." TIME, 1 I 12 I 00

pugnacious "Two pugnacious guard dogs in the railyard eliminated the nightly vandalism in a hurry." Lewis Tumulty, "Civic Pride"

puissant 'The combination of the drugs has become a puissant cocktail in the fight against AIDS." Medical report, CBS News, 9120198

pungent 'The pungent aroma of the cream puffs told Sadie that the man from Goobers had arrived." Katherine Mansfield, "The Garden Party"

puny "I have said that I am a weak and puny man, and you will have proof of that directly." Max Beerbohm, "A. V. Laidler"

qualms "The manager had qualms about allowing him to continue playing with an injured hand." Sports Illustrated, 6116198

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quandary "New Year's Eve presented a quandary for people in China. a country where the observance of non-political Western celebrations is a relatively recent phenomenon." Elizabeth Rosenthal, "Party? What Party?." New York Times, 1 I 1 I 00

quarry 'The state troopers had tracked their quarry to the thickly wooded area near the crime scene." Newsday, 4110198

quell "He also did not quell the speculation surrounding Van Gundy's status as coach." Mike Wise, New York Times, 5125199

quip 'The audience screamed and applauded hysterically at every musical number, every quip. every little movement on the stage." Liz Smith, Newsday, 612199

rabid "Politicians avoid the appearance of being rabid on issues that seem to be evenly viewed by the voters." Arthur Willner, "Taking Sides"

raconteur "As a popular raconteur. George Jessel was prized as a speaker at award ceremonies." The Hollywood Reporter, 7 I 18196

railed "He cursed and railed, and finally declared he was going to trail the raiders." Zane Grey, Raiders of the Purple Sage

raiment "No matter what her raiment. Marilyn Monroe looked absolutely fabulous on the screen." Billy Wilder quoted by Earl Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 2128176

rampant "What's more curious about the determination to end social promotions is that the practice is far from rampant." Romesh Ratnesar, "Held Back," TIME, 6114199

rash "Thou art as rash as fire to say That she was false." William Shakespeare, Othello

rationalize "It is the task of the scientist to rationalize the remains of extinct civiliza-

lions to discover their histories." Brian Fagan. Time Detective

raucous "The 1968 Democratic nominating convention in Chicago was the scene of raucous confrontations." I. F. Stone, Weekly Reader

razed "In the gorge, continually razed by the clawing wind, he would probably find his other dog." Francisco Coloane, "Cururo ... Sheep Dog"

realm "In all the churches of the realm the Blessed Sacrament is exposed night and day, and tall candles are burning for the recovery of the royal child." Alphonse Daudet, "The Death of the Dauphin"

rebuke "The defeat of the charter revision was viewed as a rebuke of his policies." Editorial, New York Times, 1117199

recanted "The government's key witness in the case recanted her testimony, claiming she had been intimidated by prosecutors." Rob Polner, "Set Back for Prosecutors," New York Post, 6123199

recoil "It is a gesture of response to my remarks, and it always makes me recoil with a laugh." Thomas Mann, "A Man and His Dog"

recondite "If it seems too re,condite for anyone but dwellers in the groves of Academe, one must consider rhyming slang which originated in the underworld." Bergen Evans, "Now Everyone Is Hip About Slang"

redolent "The scene-a decrepit classroom, redolent of moldy books, and the pencil shavings of generations of boys being ground into the hardwood floor." Jon Robin Baitz, The Film Society

redress "There has been much discussion about the fairest way to redress centuries of

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discrimination." "A Time to Begin." Readers Digest. 5/92

refute !he tobacco industry has stopped trying to refute the charge that smoking is both dangerous and addictive." U.S. News and World Report. 2/3/98

relegated lhey were to be relegated to the outer circle of my life." Van Wyck Brooks. Helen Keller

remiss "If the mayor thought that one of his commissioners had been remiss in following instructions. he would fly into a rage and throw his glasses at him." David Rockefeller on Mayor LaGuardia, New York Times, 10/10/99

remote !he pull of the remote stars is so slight as to be obliterated in the vaster moments by which the ocean yields to the moon and sun." Rachel Carson, The Sea Around Us

remuneration "Please mail your resume along with your expected remuneration to our Director of Personnel." Want ad. New York Times. 7/7/99

repented "At his court martial. the officer admitted to the charges and repented." "General Demoted," Washington Post. 9/2/99

repertoire "He led a secret life as a forger of paintings. with the most famous as part of his repertoire." Peter Landesman. New York Times, 7 I 18/99

replenish "We'll dip down into our farm system to replenish our stock of left-handed pitchers." Bobby Valentine. ABC-1V Sports Interoiew

replete "When a composition is so replete with errors. I call attention to only a few. the most important ones." Fran Weinberg, English teacher. NYC High Schools

356

repose "Good night. good night! as sweet repose and rest Come to thy heart as that within my breast." William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

reprehensible "She thought that the prisoners. no matter how morally reprehensible their crimes. still should have the benefit of pretrial representation." Jimmy Breslin's syndicated column. Newsday. 6/15/99

repressed "General McClellan repressed his feelings about President Lincoln but he expressed his private anger in letters to his wife." David Herbert Donald. Lincoln

reprimand ''The difficulty lay in the fact the man had previously received a reprimand from his employer regarding his easy-going ways with the men under him in his departmcnt." James Thurber. "Let Your Mind Alone"

reproached "When reminded that he knew little history. Henry Ford reproached his critics by reminding them that history would know him." Quoted in The Will Rogers Book, Paula Love. editor. 1961

repudiate "If upheld, the decision would repudiate one of the Administration's environmental achievements." Editorial. New York Times. 5/19/99

repugnant !he behavior of the few rioters at the rock concert was repugnant to the huge. peaceful crowd." "Woodstock Revisited," TIME. 6/7/99

repulse ''The cannons were set up to repulse a possible invasion but none was ever attempted.·· Col. F. X. Prescott. "History as Our Teacher"

reputed !he language of Iceland has changed so little that modern Icelanders are reputed to be able to read sagas written thousands of years ago." Bill Bryson. Mother Tongue

PANORAMA OF WORDS

requisite "Secrecy is more requisite than ever during the sensitive negotiations over the release of our prisoners." I. F. Stone, Weekly Reader

resourceful "The crew of the $20 million independent film had to be very resourceful to hold down costs." Beth L. Kiel, "Allen in Hollywood," New York, 6/21/99

respite "The plan enabled the oiler and the correspondent to set respite together." Stephen Crane, '!he Open Boat"

restrictive "Mr. el Hage said that the law was too restrictive. claiming that he had nothing to do with violent acts." Benjamin Weiser, "Terrorism Suspect," New York Times, 6/23/99

reticent "He was as inquisitive about the country as he was reticent about his business there." Frances Gilchrist Woods, "Turkey Red"

retort "There is no need to retort to an employee who has written a critique of your original warning letter." NYC Board of Education's Food Service Division, Guide for Managers

retrospect "I shivered in retrospect when I thought of that afternoon meeting in the freezing hall." Anna L. Strong, The Chinese Conquer China

reverberated "When that putt plunked into the hole yesterday, the 40,000 people exploded in a roar that reverberated through more than a century of U.S. Open history." Dave Anderson, "Longest Final Putt," New York Times, 6/21/99

revere "Paul McCartney and other celebrities who yet revere the name of rock-androll great Buddy Holly will host a tribute to him at the Roseland Ballroom." Letta Taylor, 'lribute to Buddy," Newsday, 9/3/99

reverts "She dreamily reverts to the hour when old age will throw down his frosts upon her head." Walt Whitman, "Dreams"

reviled "Former Haitian President Aristede was reviled by orphanage graduates who claimed that he had lied to them about the promise of jobs." Associated Press story, "Haiti Gunmen Confront Police," New York Times. 6/25/99

rhetoric "Nothing good can come out of the rhetoric of hatred that will be heard at the rally." New York Congressman Charles Rangel, ABC 1V News, 9/2/99

rife "Cyberspace is rife with sweatshops but very few people realize it." Karl Taro Greenfield, "Living the Late Shift," TIME, 6/28/99

rift '!he 1993 tear gas assault on the Branch Dividian cult has created a rift between the FBI and the Attorney General's office." Associated Press report, "FBI Video Released," Newsday, 9/3/99

romp "She was expected to win the governor's race in a romp." Wolf Blitzer, CNN News, 2/2/98

roster '!he roster of stars for our gala celebration includes Cher, Meatloaf. and Lyle Lovett." Las Vegas hotel ad

rudimentary "Some of them were singing, some talking, some engaged in gardening, hay-making, or other rudimentary industries." "The Other Side of the Hedge," E. M. Forster

rue .. When they make a mistake they will rue it." Randi Feigenbaum, .. Realtors' Deal Irks Lawyers," Newsday, 9/3/99

ruminated "Lou Gehrig, the great N.Y. Yankee star, ruminated on his career as he left because of an incurable illness: 'I con-

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sider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.'" Speech. 7/4/39

rustic 'This week a rustic setting in the Berkshire Hills was a gathering place for a group that is dedicated to preserving the Yiddish language." Tina Rosenberg, "Living an American Life in Yiddish," New York Times, 9/3/99

saga 'The saga of the Kennedy family has enthralled and saddened us." Barbara Walters. quoted in New York Times, 7/10/99

sage "I am not a visionary, nor am I a sage-I claim to be a practical idealist." Mohandas Gandhi quoted by John Gunther, Procession, 1965

salient "The salient feature of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 is that it prohibits discrimination against the disabled." Robert McFadden, "Court Ruling on Disabled Teacher Is Annulled," New York Times, 6/25/99

sally 'The next morning we decided to sally forth to try to find a site for our new home." Stephen Leacock, "How My Wife and I Built Our Home for $4.90"

salubrious "For my later years there remains the salubrious effects of work: stimulation and satisfaction." Kathe Kollwitz, Dia.ries and Letters, 1955

salvation "Maybe it is connected with some terrible sin, with the loss of eternal salvation. with some bargain with the devil." Aleksandr Pushkin, "The Queen of Spades"

sanctimonious "There has never been a shortage of sanctimonious arguments for starting a war." Peter Finley Dunne, Mr. Dooley Remembers

358

sanction "He received his father's sanction and authority." George Meredith, Diana of the Crossways

sanctuary ''The identity of Rinehart may be a temporary sanctuary for the narrator, but it is another identity he must reject if he is to find himself as a person." Anthony Abbott, Invisible Man

sanguine "I'm not sanguine about the Knicks' chances to upset the San Antonio Spurs." Telephone caller to WFAN Sports Radio Program, 6/8/99

satiety "One of the soldiers was given leave to be drunk six weeks, in hopes of curing him by satiety." William Cowper, Selected Letters

saturate "Vanilla sweetens the air, ginger spices it; melting nose-tingling odors saturate the kitchen." Truman Capote, "A Christmas Memory"

schism "The schism between the manager and his best pitcher spilled over from the locker room onto the field." Bob Klapisch. The Worst Team That Money Could Buy

scion "AI Gore is the Good Son, the early achieving scion from Harvard and Tennessee who always thought he would be President." Maureen Dowd, "Freudian FaceOff," New York Times, 6/15/99

scoffed "No one was injured except the woman who had scoffed at the belief." Leonard Fineberg, "Fire Walking in Ceylon"

scrutinized "The jockey waited with his back to the wall and scrutinized the room with pinched, creepy eyes." Carson McCullers, "The Jockey"

scurrilous "They were infuriated by the scurrilous articles about them that started to crop up in the tabloids." Charles Blauvelt, Edward and Wally

PANORAMA OF WORDS

scurry "Some small night-bird, flitting noiselessly near the ground on its soft wings, almost flapped against me, only to scurry away in alarm." Ivan Turgenev, "Bezhin Meadows"

sedate "Few public places maintain a sedate atmosphere equal to the majestic chambers of the Supreme Court." Milton Konvitz, editor, Bill of Rights Reader

sedentary "Seeger had seen him relapsing gradually into the small-town hardware merchant he had been before the war, sedentary and a little shy." Irwin Shaw, "Act of Faith"

senile "Being on golfs Senior Tour doesn't mean that we're senile." Leon Jaroff, 'Those Rich Old Pros," TIME, 9/27/99

serenity "At the top, they planted the crucifix and gathered round, moved by the serenity." Sontag Orme, "Solemnity and Flash in the Land of Jesus," New York Times, 1/1/00

servile "Uriah Heep, so physically repulsive and hypocritically servile, fascinated David at first but later revolted him." Holly Hughes, Barron's Book Notes, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

shibboleths Dialects are sometimes used as shibboleths to signal the ethnic or social status of the speaker." Bill Bryson, Mother Tongue

sinecure "Matthew Arnold's job was a sinecure, allowing him plenty of time to travel and write lyrics." Nicholas Jenkins, "A Gift Improvised," New York Times, 6/20/99

singular 'The fate that rules in matters of love is often singular, and its ways are inscrutable, as this story will show." Meyer Goldschmidt, "Henrik and Rosalie"

sinister 'The man had a cordially sinister air." Hernando Tellez, "Ashes for the Wind"

site 'The site of the bison herd's destruction was a tall cliff over which they were driven." Brian Fagan, Time Detectives

skirmish 'They never meet but there's a skirmish of wit between them." William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

slovenly 'The twenty-six year old's slovenly appearance belied the fact that he was one of the Silicon Valley's brightest stars." Reuben Cowan, "Today Dot-Com"

sojourn "He returned from a long sojourn in Europe." Alan McCulloch. Encyclopedia of Australian Art

solace "He read in a Bible that he had neglected for years, but he could gain little solace from it." Theodore Dreiser, 'The Lost Phoebe"

solicited "The police chief said that Commissioner Safir had not yet solicited his opinion on the question." "Police Chief Says Officers Deserve Raise," New York Times, 6/15/99

somber 'There was a somber and moving tribute for his last game at Yankee Stadium." John Updike, New Yorker, 10/22/94

sophistry "No amount of sophistry could disguise the obvious fact that the legislation was biased against one particular office holder." New York Times, 9/2/99

sordid 'The workmen used revolting language; it was disgusting and sordid." Katherine Mansfield, 'The Garden Party"

spate "'There has been a spate of tell-all memoirs, destroying the organization's special status." Jewish Monthly, 9/99

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spew "It was obvious as the miles of electronic tape began to spew out the new patterns of American life that the census was to be of historic dimension." Theodore H. White, The Making of the President

spontaneous ''Professor Einstein burst out in spontaneous candidness." Thomas Lee Bucky, "Einstein: An Intimate Memoir"

sporadic "TROOPS ENCOUNTER SPORADIC VIOLENCE" Headline, Newsday. 6/14/99

spurious "The only known picture, albeit a spurious one, had been printed some years earlier." James Monaghan, Diplomat in Carpet Slippers

squeamish "My brother, who voted for Mr. Mbeki and who has faith in his leadership, is not squeamish." Mark Mathabane, "South Africa's Lost Generation"

stagnant "The place was small and close, and the long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul." T. E. Lawrence, The Desert of the Stars

staunch "Known as a staunch supporter of the Republican agenda, the young politician astounded us all by his defection." Monte Halperin, "Party Turncoat?"

steeped "Edward Francis had steeped himself in the internal mystery of the guinea pig." Paul De Kruif, Hunger,Fighters

stentorian "He proclaimed the fact in stentorian tones that were easily heard throughout the auditorium." A. A. Berle, The 20th Century Capitalist Revolution

stereotypes "Treating the most respected leader in the land that way confrrms the worst stereotypes and that really hurts us." Alessandra Stanley, "Asking a Favor of the Pope," New York Times, 6/12/99

360

stigmatized "People who so much as whisper during a performance are stigmatized as barbarians." Joseph Wechsberg, The Best Things in Life

stipulated "I shall come out from here five minutes before the stipulated term, and thus shall violate the agreement." Anton Chekhov, "The Bet"

strident "No matter how strident or insulting he became, he was not interrupted by the police." New York Daily News, 9/5/99

strife "Either there is a civil strife, Or else the world, too saucy with the gods. Incenses them to send destruction." William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

stunted "Their physical and mental development became stunted during childhood." Roger Pineles, Shame of the Cities

stupor "If your child watches late night television and comes home from school in a stupor, she's not getting enough sleep." "Getting Enough Sleep," Working Mother, 5/98

stymied "The family has been stymied in its attempt to remove a dead relative from the juror rolls." Associated Press story, "Jury Duty Summonses Don't Stop Despite Death," New York Times, 6/25/99

subjugated "The country had been bitterly divided, so ruthless in its determination to keep the black majority subjugated." Sheryl McCarthy, "Mandela Was South Africa's Perfect Choice," Newsday, 6/ 17/99

subservient "From the earliest times, including the Bible, women have been counseled to be subservient to men." Barbara G. Walker, The Women's Encyclopedia

substantiate "The Queens District Attorney said that there were not enough facts to

PANORAMA OF WORDS

substantiate the charges against the tour operator so no prosecution would take place." Queens Courier. 1/18/00

subterfuge "He was a free-will agent and he chose to do careful work. and if he failed, he took the responsibility without subteifuge." Maijorie Kinnan Rawlings. "A Mother in Mannville"

subterranean "Another celebrity expected during the three games at Madison Square Garden is Ed Norton-the actor, not the subterranean sanitation professional." Richard Sandomir, "N.B.A. Finals," New York Times. 6/21/99

succinct "In clear and succinct tones, our division head proceeded to tear me to shreds in front of the entire staff." Elleyn Falk, "They Promised Me a Rose Garden"

succulent "Use this coupon to get $1 off on a succulent holiday turkey." Advertisement, Waldbaum's Supermarket, 11/99

succumbed "This young gentleman was of an excellent family but had been reduced to such poverty that the energy of his character succumbed beneath it." Edgar Allan Poe, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"

sullen "My decision to leave put her into a sullen silence. broken only by a mumble under her breath." Alan Lelchuk, "American Mischief'

sultry "The sun would shine up there in the lengthening spring day and pleasant breezes blow in sultry summer." Maurice Walsh, The Quiet Man

sumptuous "In the summer the table was set, and the sumptuous meals-well, it makes me cry to think of them." Mark Twain, Autobiography

superficial "His teachings had only a superficial relationship to the orthodox religion he

advocated." Carl Dreyer, "The Roots of AntiSemitism"

superfluous "He drove through the beautiful countryside in silence; conversation would have been superjluous." Travel and Leisure, 10/94

supine "The clergy as a whole were therefore obedient and supine." G. M. Trevelyan. Carlyle

supplication "The last supplication I make of you is that you will believe this of me." Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

surfeit "A suifeit of the sweetest things The deepest loathing to the stomach brings." William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

surge "In one wild surge they stormed into a police station, where the bewildered officers tried to maintain order." James Michener, "The Bridge at Andau"

surmised "The commanding officer surmised that the other ship in the cove was a coaster." Joseph Conrad, Tales of Hearsay

surreptitiously "He was surreptitiously negotiating to have 70 percent of the payments turned over to himself." David C. Johnson, "Tax Evasion Scheme," New York Times, I I 1/00

susceptible "Wrestling matches are susceptible to being heavily scripted, as ardent fans know." Edward Wyatt, "Pinning Down a Share Value," New York Times, 8/4/99

symptomatic "The widespread dislocation and downsizing in hospitals is symptomatic of relentless cost pressures." Carol Eisenberg, "Nurses Contend With System's Ills," Newsday, 6/22/99

taboo "The modern motion pictures have shown so much that once was considered

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taboo." Harold H. Owen, Jr.. The Motion Picture

tacit "There is a tacit agreement in a civil conversation that each avoid making of it a monologue." Rebecca West, 'There Is No Conversation"

tainted "The defense argued that poor police procedures had tainted the evidence." Newsday, 6/19/98

tangible "I hated it, not because of our one overcrowded closet, but because of intrusions and discomforts of a far less tangible nature." Mary Ellen Chase, "A Room of My Own"

tantalized "We were tantalized by a glimpse of a brown bear and her cubs in the wood." Travel and Leisure, 10/97

tantamount "Opponents of the proposed agreement claim it is tantamount to a surrender of holy land." USA. Today, 1 I 13/00

taut "His face grew taut as he was questioned about his use of illegal drugs in his youth." New York Post. 8/19/99

technology "Mr. Greenspan noted that 'history is strewn' with miscalculations about technology developments." Richard Stevenson, "Fed Chief on New-Age Economy," New York Times, 6/15/99

temerity "In the first month of his service in the House, the young Congressman had the temerity to challenge his party's Speaker; it was a mistake." Blanche Kassell, Up on the Hill

tenable "He took the tenable position that lawyers should never cross examine a witness without knowing the answer before asking the question." Harper Lee, To KUl a Mockingbird

362

tenacious "Their talent and tenacious actions on the court will at last reward them." Darcy Frey. The Last Shot

termagant 'This book deals with the matrimonial adventures of an extremely rich and bullying termagant." Saturday Review, 11/99

terminate "A continuation of such chronic lateness may lead us to terminate your employment." Regulations of the NYC Board of Education's Office of School Food & Nutrition Services

terse "The mayor sent a terse letter to the school's chancellor over his cancellation of a meeting." New York Times, 8/5/99

therapy "He will have to undergo long-term therapy before considering playing baseball again." The Washington Post, 7/9/99

throng "When the throng had mostly streamed into the porch, the sexton began to toll the bell." Nathaniel Hawthorne, 'The Minister's Black Veil"

thwarted 'The man who made up the name for flies must have been thwarted in a lifelong desire to have children, and at last found that outlet for his suppressed babytalk." Robert Benchley. "The Lure of the Road"

timorous "He was a timorous incompetent who was lucky to have good men under him." W. A. Swanberg, Citizen Hearst

tinged "The sermon was tinged, rather more darkly than usual, with the gentle gloom of Mr. Hooper's temperament." Nathaniel Hawthorne, 'The Minister's' Black Veil"

tolerated 'They despise anyone who hasn't had the luck to be born Masai, but for one reason and another. they tolerated me." Robert W. Krepps. "Pride of Seven"

PANORAMA OF WORDS

tortuous "The tortuous descent down the mountain resulted in one additional fatality, this time a sure-footed Sherpa guide." Winston Adair, "Everest·Takes Its Toll"

tradition "The town had a century-old tradition-an eight-hour canoe race." Brenda Flock, "The Race"

tranquil "Over this house, most tranquil and complete, Where no storm ever beat, She was sole mistress." Phyllis McGinley, "The Doll House"

transient "City championships and national tournaments, however thrilling, are transient moments." Darcy Frey, The Last Shot

tremulous "'Will Pa get hurt?' asked Jane in a tremulous voice." Jessamyn West, "Yes, We'll Gather at the River"

trenchant "Mr. Salinger's views on celebrity are often funny and trenchant." Clyde Haberman, "A Recluse Meets His Match," New York Times, 6/18/99

trend "We should make every effort to reverse the trend in popular music towards violent lyrics." Portland Oregonian. 8/12/99

trivial "In the study of past civilizations, riothing is considered as a trivial discovery." Brian Fagan, Time Detectives

truncated "It will be much harder if their state (Palestine) is so truncated, so cut up, that it is not viable." Anthony Lewis, 'The Irrelevance of a Palestinian State," New York Times, 6/20/99

turbulent "Up to the turbulent surface came a peculiar-looking craft, risen from the calm but dangerous depth of the ocean." Lt. Don Walsh, "Our Seven-Mile Dive to the Bottom"

turpitude "The government must be held responsible for these acts of moral turpitude

resulting in so many civilian casualties." TIME. 8/25/98

tussle "It often doesn't pay to tussle with your child to take music lessons." Working Mother, 5/96

tyro "The computer training center will soon turn a tyro into a successful user." Senior News, 9/99

ubiquitous "Che Guevera has become ubiquitous; his figure stares out at us from coffee mugs and posters, pops up in rock songs and operas." Ariel Dorfman, "Che," TIME. 6/14/99

ultimate 'The ultimate possibility for hero and chorus alike is stated in Father Mapple's sermon, and it is to become a saint." W. H. Auden, "The Christian Tragic Hero"

umbrage "I do not take umbrage when I'm looked over, I do when I'm overlooked." Mae West, The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West, Joseph Weintraub, Editor

unabated "'The summer list of auto fatalities continues unabated as three more Southampton teens are killed in a Sunday crash." W. Mariano, "A Final Farewell," Newsday,6/25/99

unconscionable "Viewers of 1V's coverage of disasters find it unconscionable for mourning family members to be shown and interviewed so close up we can see the tears." John Stephens, New York, 4/16/98

unctuous "Today's car salesmen are a far cry from the high-pressured and unctuous ones of the past." Car and Travel, 9/99

underwrite "We are pleased to feature those local businesses who help to underwrite our programs." Patterns, monthly magazine of WILL, Champaign, Illinois

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universal "With the approach of the new millennium we see an almost universal fear of major disruptions." TIME, 9 I 19/99

unkempt "Budget cuts have resulted in overcrowded and unkempt camping sites in our parks." Freeman Tilden, The National Parks

unmitigated 'The crossword puzzle is the unmitigated sedentary hobby of Americans." Bill Bryson, Mother Tongue

unsavory "Punishing students by assigning them more work, has made education unsavory and unappealing to the average student." H. C. McKown, "The Three R's Today"

unwieldy "Today's light weight, compact cameras are a far cry from the unwieldy ones used by early photographers." Popular Photography, 9/96

urbane "Their prose is less ornate, their urbane satire more muted." Book review, New York Times

usurp "There is a constant struggle as one branch of government attempts to usurp some of the powers of the other." Milton Konvitz, editor, Bill of Rights Reader

utopia "I was held spellbound by the middle-class utopia. without a blot, without a tear." William James, "What Makes Life Significant"

vacillated "In planning for the book I vacillated between a selective, but deeper approach or a general, more limited approach." Milton Konvitz, editor, Bill of Rights Reader

valor "Thrice have the Mexicans before us fled, Their armies broken, their prince in triumph ·ted; Both to thy valor, brave young man, we owe." Sir Robert Howard & John Dryden, The Indian Queen

364

vapid "The new James Bond movie lacks the excitement of the many before and is a vapidcopy." Newsday, 10/25/98

vehemently "The President spoke vehemently against any large tax cut." New York Times, 9/16/99

veneer "Since then, she has frequently tried to crack the veneer of role, surface, and pose." Mark Stevens, "Spice Girls," New York, 6/21/99

venerable "Despite their huge popularity the most venerable papers refused to accept crossword puzzles as more than a passing fad." Bill Bryson, Mother Tongue

venial "The coach tried to overlook the venial errors of his players and concentrated on the serious ones." Sports Rlustrated, 5/12/99

venom "The point envenom'd tool Then, venom do thy work." William Shakespeare, Hamlet

vertigo "Iron workers on beams, hundreds of feet above Broadway, were immune to periods of vertigo." Architectural Digest, 1/93

vestige 'They kept at the rescue efforts as long as there was a vestige of hope for the earthquake victims." TIME, 8/30/99

vexatious "This vexatious law suit dragged on interminably, becoming a legend in the process." Charles Dickens, Bleak House

viable "The organism remains viable in the soil for years." Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

vicissitudes "Her husband was not only faithful but patient in the face of remarkable vicissitudes." Eliza Jane Berman, Noble Minds

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vigil "The U.N. peacekeeping troops are keeping a vigil over the disputed area." New York Times, 9/21 /99

vigilant .. 1 deny not but that it is of great concernment in the church and commonwealth to have a vigilant eye how looks demean themselves." John Milton, "Aereopagitica"

vilified "One who belongs to the most vilified minority in history is not likely to be unaware of the freedoms guaranteed by our constitutions." Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, decision, October 1943

vindicated "His family was certain that his actions would be vindicated when all of the facts became available." "Pilot Blamed in Crash," New York Posi. 11/26/99

virile "The danger to our virile economy from weaknesses in the Far East should not be overlooked." Wall Street Journal. 5/16/98

virtuosity "Employing his virtuosity as an orchestrator of suspense, the author puts Lector in Florence, Italy, speaking impeccable Italian." Paul Grey. "Dessert. Anyone?," TIME, 6/21/99

virulently "Another part of my hope was for communities of people of colour that, for the most part, have been virulently homophobic." Mark Haslam, "When Bigotry Kills," Globe and Mail, Toronto, 3/5/99

vitiate "This act is an attempt to vitiate the separation of powers upon which our democracy is founded." Justice Earl Warren. Bill of Rights Reader. 1957

vitriolic "The speaker's vitriolic comments about ethnic and religious groups brought condemnation from the mayor." New York Daily News. 9/5/98

vituperation "To justify his action he used vituperation. calling his enemies 'detestable pests.'" Barbara G. Walker. The Women's Encyclopedia

vivacious "The performance of this vivacious leading lady made the play a delight." New York Post, 10/15/98

vogue "Examining the private lives of our political leaders is in vogue this election period." New York, 9/4/99

volition "To prove her innocence, she took a lie detector test of her own volition." New York Times. 9/21/99

voluble "He came to hate Ray Gribble and his voluble companions of the submerged tenth of the class." Sinclair Lewis, "Young Man Axelbrod"

voluminous "The testimony in the case relating to the President's actions has become voluminous.'' Washington Post. 5/15/99

voracious "We spent a good number of our waking hours feeding voracious stoves." Jean Stafford, "New England Winter"

vulnerable "Any vulnerable area in an otherwise strong person or structure is known as an Achilles heel." Barbara G. Walker, The Women's Encyclopedia

wan "Why so pale and wan. fond lover? Prithee. why so pale?" John Suckling, "Encouragement to a Lover"

wane "Japan, once an economic power, has seen its influence wane." New York Times, 8/1/99

wary "These figures were wanJ in their movements and perfectly silent afoot." Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim

365

PANORAMA OF WORDS

wheedle "'The first step of a politician is to wheedle the editorial backing of a newspaper." Frederick Nebel, A Free Press

whet 'The accepted purpose of coming attractions in movie theatres is to whet the viewers' desire to see the film." John Simon, Reverse Angle

whimsical "'This is not a whimsical idea-it is a serious plan." Calvin Klein, New York Magazine, 9/15/95

wince "He took the cruel blow without a wince or a cry." A. Conan Doyle, 1he Last Book of Sherlock Holmes

wistful "I am sad when I see those wistful ads placed by the lovelorn in the classified

366

columns." E. B. White, The Essays of E. B. White

wrest "'Their attempt to wrest control of the company was thwarted by the Colonel and his three supporters on the board." Edmund Ward, Jr., "Bulls and Bears" [adapted]

yen "She could not resist the yen to see how her classmates had progressed so she agreed to attend the class reunion." Woman's Home Companion, 9/94

zealous "James I was zealous in prosecuting Scottish sorcerers." George Lyman Kittredge, Witchcraft in Old and New England

zenith "At the zenith of her fame as a musical star, she was assassinated by a crazed fan." H. Hudson, People, 7/21/97

BONUS WEEK A ·:· DAY 1

TITANIC MYSTERY On Aprtl 14, 1912, an incident took place that became a front page stocy in newspapers all over the world. It is a tale that has continued to capture the attention of movie and theatre goers, of opera and television audiences, of novelists and playwrights-it's the stocy of the allegedly impregnable Titanic, the unsinkable majestic ocean liner that tumbled to the bottom of the icy Atlantic waters with 1600 passengers still aboard.

How could such a toxic tragedy have occurred? Could it have been avoided? How could the naval patriarch, Captain Edward Smith, no neophyte he, have allowed the disaster to happen? What were the extenuating circumstances that led to the death of that glorious White Star queen?

In September 1985, the hulk of the Titanic was found on the ocean's floor, providing many answers to the questions that seamen and landlubbers had wrestled with over the years.


1. Coal miners are often subject to fumes.

NEW WORDS

impregnanble im preg" m 1»1

toxic tok' sik

patriarch pi tre ark'

neophyte ne' ~fit

extenuating ik sten' y00 it tng

2. Robert's defense lawyer pointed out the conditions of the case.

3. Although Sarah was skillfu1 at math, she was a at computers.

4. A company of marines was unable to penetrate the seemingly _____ _ fortress.

5. Grandfather is the recognized ______ of our family.


6. impregnable

7. toxic

8. extenuating

9. neophyte

1 0. patriarch

a. harmful

b. elder

c. incapable of being entered

d. beginner

e. excusable

TODAY'S IDIOM

______ ] a dry run- trial, test, exercise

Before opening night, the actors had several dry runs.


NEW WoRDS

forebodings for bo' dings

emanting em' ana ting

miscreant mis' kre ~nt protocol pro' ta kol

circuitous sar kyoo' i tas

BONUS WEEK A •!• DAY 2

WHAT WENT WRONG? Investigators found that a series of mistakes led to the sinking of the Titanic. A wireless message had come in from a French liner, warning of ice ahead, but that was a thousand miles away, and so, no need to worry. On April 13, the vessel Rapphannoek also warned the Titanic of dangerous ice ahead. On the following day, there came a spate* of other warnings from a Cunard ship, a Dutch liner, and the White Star Bal~all telling of icebergs about 250 miles from the Titanic's current position. Next came the German Amerika, echoing the same forebodings, followed by the California. cautioning the Titanic about the field ice. Finally, the Mesaba called attention to an enormous belt of ice stretching directly

across the Titanic's path. All the messages emanating from sister ships should have had a profound* effect on Smith and company.

No one miscreant could be fmgered, but a host of crew members were certainly blameworthy. Why didn't Captain Smith's officers react to those messages? Notations were indeed made on slips of paper but largely ignored and forgotten. There was no standard protocol for the handling of such messages; if there had been, Captain Smith would certainly have taken a circuitous route so as to avoid the dangerous icebergs.


1. Cindy took a ______ route home to avoid the class bullies.

2. Caesar's wife had about danger facing her husband.

3. The rulings from the local court were cheered by the conservatives.

4. The class was made to remain after school.

5. Failing to follow got Sophia into trouble at the office.


6. forebordings

7. emanating

8. miscreant

9. protocol

10. circuitous

368

a. one who behaves badly

b. forms of ceremony

c. premonitions, evil omens

d. roundabout

e. coming from

TODAY'S IDIOM

to throw someone a curve-to do the unexpected

When I least expected it, Helen threw me a curve.



DEATH KNELL FOR THE TITANIC And then it happened. White in its innocence, a monstrous iceberg smashed into the luxury liner, ripping an ugly gash of 250 feet along the starboard and causing a fatal wound. Within seconds, thousands of cubic feet of water had penetrated the shattered hull. One after another, dominolike, the watertight compartments and bulkhead were flooded. The unthinkable had happened despite the absolute guarantees of the shipbuilders, Harland & Woolf.

There followed a macabre scene as the ship's band, clad in their tuxedos, continued to play show tunes while hordes of terrified passengers, many in nightclothes, rushed toward the

NEW WORDS

knell nel

macabre rna ka' bra

ramifications ram· a fi ka shans

rapacious ra pi' shas

insurgent in sur· jant

lifeboats. The crew called out, "Women and children first," but their lack of an orderly plan for loading would have profound* ramljications. In fact, some boats that could hold 30 were sent into the Atlantic with only a handful of people-generally first -class passengers.

As panic began to take hold, the realization that there weren't enough lifeboats exacerbated* the situation, bringing out the worst in a rapacious few. Several insurgent males ignored the crew and jumped into descending lifeboats. It was an act of shame they would have to live with for the rest of their lives.


1. The dictator used mustard gas against his enemies.

2. Additional troops were dispatched to deal with the threat.

3. When the ______ sounded, the students closed their books and their minds.

4. Some critics were unhappy about the bloody scenes in the movie.

5. Heidi was concerned about the of her employer's new policy.


6. knell a. complications

7. macabre b. greedy, taking by force

8. ramifications c. gruesome

9. rapacious d. rebellious

10. insurgent e. sound of a bell

TODAY'S IDIOM

to cross the Rubicon-a limit that allows for no return (The Rubicon was a river in Italy that Julius Caesar's army crossed, knowing there was no retreat.)

When I crossed the Rubicon by signing the contract, I knew I could never go back on my commitment.


NEW WORDS

glut glut

risible riz' ~ 1:»1

dilatory dil' ~tore

specious spe sh~s

denouement da noo man'


THE LAWYERS' TURN As one might have expected, manifold* law suits against the White Star Line began to crop up within weeks of the sinking and rescue. The glut of billionaires on board (Astors, Wideners, Guggenheims, Strausses, et al.} did not file any claims, but other cases went all the way to the Supreme Court and kept lawyers and judges busy for the next four years. The average claim had been for a modest $1500, and the average award, paid by the White Star Line, was a risible $1000. White Star's top notch legal staff was accused of using dilatory tactics, tiring the claimants until they agreed to settle for a mere pittance*. Their lawyers called many claims specious and rejected them out of hand.

The denouement of the story is rather sad. American and British maritime law had long given special protection to ship owners on the grounds that their business was such a risky one. And so there was a limit to the amount of money that White Star could be assessed. In the end, they paid only 4% of the $16 million originally demanded by the survivors and were happy to close the books on the ocean disaster. We can imagine that if a similar tragedy were to take place today, the settlements would be in the hundreds of millions.


1. The play's came with three dead bodies on the stage.

2. Umpires do not like pitchers who use styles.

3. In debating, arguments are rarely effective.

4. What Hany felt was Sally thought was pathetic.

5. Our choir has a ______ of tenors and a shortage of sopranos.


6. glut a. delaying

7. Iisible b. laughable

8. dilatory c. oversupply

9. specious d. deceptively attractive

10. denouement e. outcome

TODAY'S IDIOM

to brave the elements-to go out in bad weather

Despite the freezing rain, Cynthia decided to brave the elements.


BONUS WEEK A •!• DAY 5 REVIEW

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. circuitous a. coming from 2. denouement b. a rebel 3. dilatory c. aged male family leader 4. emanating d. gruesome 5. extenuating e. roundabout 6. forebodings f. complications 7. glut g. tending to delay 8. impregnable h. forms of ceremony 9. insurgent i. lessening the seriousness

10. knell j. sound of a bell 11. macabre k. premonitions, evil omens 12. miscreant I. greedy, taking by force 13. neophyte m. harmful, destructive 14. patriarch n. oversupply 15. protocol o. deceptively attractive 16. ramifications p. cannot be entered by force 17. rapacious q. laughable, ludicrous 18. risible r. one who behaves badly 19. specious s. beginner, novice 20. toxic t. outcome

IDIOMS 21. a dry run u. a limit that allows for no return 22. to throw someone a curve v. trial exercise 23. to cross the Rubicon 24. to brave the elements

Check your answers on page 388. Make a record of those words you missed.

w. do the unexpected x. go out in bad weather


1. -----------------

2. -----------------

3. -----------------

4. -----------------

5. -----------------

MEANINGS

371

SENSIBLE SENTENCES? (From Week A)

• •.• Underline the word that makes sense in each of the sentences below.

1. When the (ramifications, knell) of his action were explained, Roger apologized.

2. There is no known antidote for the (specious, toxic) poison.

3. Following (forebodings. protocol). Ben bowed before the emperor.

4. The young (patriarch, miscreant) was brought before the judge.

5. Seeking his prey, the lion took a (circuitous, dUatory) route on the trail of the deer. ·

6. Victor's weak explanation elicited* a (risible, rapacious) reaction from his teacher.

7. The (insurgent. neophyte) forces launched a successful attack.

8. We thought the (knell, denouement) of the play was ridiculous.

9. Harmful fumes were (emanating. extenuating) from the laboratory.

10. Critics rated the (impregnable, macabre) play to be the season's best.


WORDSEARCH A


An Unusual Perk

A study ..;;..<D ____ from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

declared that one in eight adults in our major cities has diabetes, a

® disease. Many. however. are not aware that they have it or how

® it can be. There is a ® of evidence revealing that the

high blood sugar that affects diabetics is more characteristic of Asian

Americans, African-Americans, and Hispanics than of the white population.

Unfortunately. many of the victims of diabetes do not take immediate steps

to deal the with disease. New York City's health commissioner has warned of

the ® of a failure to control the high blood sugar: blindness,

amputations. and heart disease. In fact, diabetes is the nation's fastest

growing major disease.

Clues

<D 2nd Day

® 1st Day

® 5th Day

@ 4th Day

® 3rd Day


NEW WORDS

dolorous do Ia Ids

enervated en' ~r va tid

suffrage suf' rij

cabal ka hal'

odious o' de ~s

BONUS WEEK 8 •!• DAY 1

GOOD NEWS-AND BAD On Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, General Ulysses S. Grant sent a terse• dispatch to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. It contained the long-awaited sentence that the Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered. The dolorous Civil War that had crippled the young nation was finally over.

President Lincoln was only 56 at the time, but he looked twenty years older. The burden of being a wartime president had so enervated Lincoln that Surgeon General Barnes feared an imminent• nervous breakdown. When Grant's news reached Lincoln, he went to the front windows of the White House and waved to the crowd below. He proceeded to

make a brief speech about the problems of Reconstruction and advocated* the granting of suffrage to Negro soldiers.

Among the listeners was a Southern patriot, the popular actor John Wilkes Booth, almost as famous in the theater as his father, Junius. "That's the last speech he will ever make," said Booth to a fellow member of his cabal of conspirators. Booth's odious plan was to assassinate Lincoln whom he hated passionately, while an associate, George Atzerodt, would do the same to Vice-President Andrew Johnson.


1. The dictator lied when he claimed he favored for women.

2. We were surprised when Ted's happy expression turned into a one.

3. The members of the revolutionary were arrested and jailed.

4. Sylvia's remarks caused the audience to turn against her.

5. by his long walk, Jose took to his bed.


6. dolorous a. right to vote

7. enervated b. secret group of plotters

8. suffrage c. worn out

9. cabal d. sad

10. odious e. despicable

TODAY'S IDIOM

to kill the goose that laid the golden egg-to spoil a good deal

By being greedy, the accountant killed the goose that laid the golden egg.


BONUS WEEK B ·:· DAY 2

THE DREAMS OF LINCOLN AND BOOTH Lincoln's family and friends remembered that the President had a prescient dream in March, several weeks before th~ fatal day, and provided them with a verbatim account. He told of entering the East Room in the White House where a throng• of people were gathered around an open coffin. In his reverie, Lincoln asked a soldier, "Who is dead in the White House?" 'The President," was the reply. "He was killed by an assassin."

Mrs. Lincoln said, "I'm glad I don't believe in dreams or I should be in terror from this time forth." Lincoln's was the calming voice, "Let's try to forget it. I think the Lord in His own good time and way will work this out all right."

NEW WORDS

prescient pre' she ~nt

verbatim wr hi' tim

reverie rev' ~r e thespian

thes' pe an

despot des' p3t

Of course, all who loved Abe Lincoln would have been deeply agitated if they had known what John Wilkes Booth was planning. As a Southern secessionist, he despised the President. As a thespian. he romanticized the action that he could take to rid the nation of a cruel warmonger. Although he had not taken an active part in the Civil War, he was convinced that he could contribute to the Confederate cause by kidnapping the bearded despot. It wasn't exactly clear in his mind whether he would "capture" Lincoln and take him to Richmond where he could be exchanged for Confederate prisoners of war-or whether he would just put a bullet in the President's head.


1. Yearning to be a , Roger took lessons from a dramatic coach.

2. When he lost control of the militia, the was forced to flee.

3. Claiming to be , the fortune teller took advantage of the gullible* woman.

4. With remarkable talent, the reporter was able to quote speeches _____ _

5. In her ______ , Ellen saw herself as the next U.S. President.


6. prescient

7. verbatim

8. reverie

9. thespian

10. despot

a. dream

b. actor

c. able to predict

d. word for word

e. tyrant

TODAY'S IDIOM

to carry coals to Newcastle-a waste of time (since Newcastle had a great deal of coal)

Telling the racing car driver how to drive is like carrying coals to Newcastle.


NEW WORDS

pathological path'~ loj i kal

articulate ar tik' y~ lit

grandeur gran' J~r

polemic ~ lem· ik

impasse im' pas

BONUS WEEK B ·:· DAY 3

THE ASSASSINS MAKE READY The pathological yet articulate Booth had rounded up several coconspirators and shared his delusions of grandeur with them. He had produced a polemic that convinced his crew that it would be a patriotic thing to capture the President. One of them was assigned to shut off the master gas valve at Ford's Theatre when Mr. and Mrs lincoln were seated there at the play. With all the lights out, Booth would bind and gag the President. Two men would lower Uncoln onto the stage, and then cany him out the rear door to a covered wagon waiting in the alley. They would head for Port Tobacco and then feny across the Potomac to their ultimate• destination, Richmond, Virginia.

Several dry runs• had not worked out for the cabalists* who were about to reach an impasse when Booth learned that Uncoln would be celebrating General Grant's victories with a party at Ford's Theater on the night of April 14. He promised the small group that destiny was at hand; their bold act, he said, would make their names famous forever in the annals of U.S. history.

In the late afternoon of April 14, Booth watched a rehearsal of the play that would be performed that evening. He had reviewed his action plan and the escape route, and he believed it to be foolproof. He mouthed the phrase he would use after killing Lincoln, "Sic Semper Tyrannis" ("Thus always to tyrants").

The curtain was about to go up on one of the darkest days in the country's history.


1. The was broken when the union agreed to management's offer.

2. In history class, we studied the of Greece and the glory of Rome.

3. Hal was surprisingly for a high school freshman.

4. The defense lawyer admitted that his client was a ______ liar.

5. The team captain's ______ led to a fist fight in the locker room.


6. pathological a. well-spoken

7. articulate b. magnificence

8. grandeur c. disordered in behavior

9. polemic d. deadlock

10. impasse e. controversial argument

TODAY'S IDIOM

an axe to grind-to pursue a selfish aim Senator Smith was in favor of the bill, but we knew that he had an axe to grind.


BONUS WEEK B •!• DAY 4 NEW WORDS

"NOW HE BELONGS TO THE ACES" At 8:25 the Uncolns arrived at the theater. When they entered Booths 7 & 8, as regimen dictated, the band played "Hail to the Chief." The 1675 members of the audience stood to honor the great man. and then the play commenced. It is reported that Booth said to a drunk who had denigrated his acting skill, "When I leave the stage, I will be the most famous man in America."

At about 10 P.M., with extreme guile, Booth had managed to be behind Box 7 in the darkness of the hallway. He saw the silhouette of a head above the horsehair rocker. Derringer in his hand, he aimed it between the President's left ear and his spine. The shot was drowned out by laughter on the stage.

regimen ref a m~n

denigrated den· i gnit ed

guile gil

mortal mar· tl

inflicted in fltkt'ed

Shouting "Revenge for the South," Booth climbed over the ledge of the box and jumped onto the stage, breaking his leg in the process.

In pain, Booth limped out the stage door where his horse was waiting and made his getaway. Days later, however, he was cornered in a Virginia barn and shot. Three of the cabal* members were arrested and hanged.

At the theater, a 23-year-old doctor attended to the wounded President. He found that the lead shot had lodged in Lincoln's brain, a bad sign. Several soldiers carried Mr. Uncoln across the street to a private house. His family physician came and so did the Surgeon General. The President struggled throughout the long night, but it was apparent that a mortal wound had been ir!flicted. and he could not be saved.

At 7:22A.M. it was over; two silver coins were placed on the assassinated President's eyes. Then Secretary Stanton uttered the famous words, "Now he belongs to the ages."


1. The blow to the boxer's jaw turned out to be a one.

2. Using , the magician pulled the wool over the spectators' eyes. 3. Aunt Ethel's morning ______ called for three cups of coffee.

4. When her boss Martha's stenographic ability, she quit.

5. The prison guards torture on some of the inmates.


6. regimen a. leading to death

7. denigrated b. defamed

8. guile c. a system of control

9. mortal d. trickery

1 0. inflicted e. imposed upon TODAY'S IDIOM

to throw one's hat in the ring-to run for political office

Before a gathering of the party's faithful, the local congressman threw his hat in the ring for the position of senator.


REVIEW BONUS WEEK B ·:· DAY 5

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS 1. articulate a. absolute ruler 2. cabal b. hateful, despicable 3. denigrated c. secret group of plotters 4. despot d. actor 5. dolorous e. disordered in behavior 6. enervated f. defamed one's character 7. grandeur g. a controversial argument 8. guile h. able to speak clearly 9. impasse i. able to know beforehand

1 0. inflicted j. greatness of character, magnificence 11. mortal k. word for word 12. odious I. worn out 13. pathological m. a system of control 14. polemic n. to impose something painful 15. prescient o. deadlock 16. regimen p. a daydream 17. reverie q. subject to death 18. suffrage r. the right to vote 19. thespian s. sorrowful 20. verbatim t. trickery, deceit

IDIOMS 21. an axe to grind u. to pursue a selfish aim 22. to carry coals to Newcastle v. a waste of time 23. to throw one's hat in the ring w. to run for office 24. to kill the goose that laid the

golden egg x. to spoil a good deal

Check your answers on page 388. Study the words you missed.

378


1.

2. ----------------

3.

4.

5.

MEANINGS

WORDSEARCH B


Perks Are In

Do you know what a Mperk" is? Simply put, it's an extra reward, a special

benefit given to sweeten the job for an employee. Now an <D staffer

at Serus, a software maker in California's Silicon Valley, has skillfully

described an incredible perk given to him and his fellow workers-a thrill

packed parachute plunge as they jumped from a plane 14,000 feet above the

ground.

MOur employees work hard and can become _@____ , " said a Serus

executive, Mand we want to invigorate them with sky dives, as well as cruises,

beauty treatments at spas, birthday parties, maid services, and other creative

perks that our ® might conjure up."

Of course, company executives are deeply interested in keeping productive

staff members from quitting and going to work for competitors. And so, the

host of perks they offer reflect the@ behind their generosity. MCash

bonuses won't have the same effect," a CEO said. In a® remark he

declared, Mit's like a parent who throws money at his child when what the

youngster really wants is attention."

Clues

Q) 3rd Day

@ 1st Day

@ 1st Day

@ 4th Day

® 2nd Day


SENTENCE COMPLETIONS (From Weeks A and B)

380

• •.• Each sentence below has two blanks, indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five sets of words labeled A through E. Choose the set of words that, when inserted, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

1. The ___ dictator used ___ to achieve his goals.

a. rapactous ... gutle b. articulate ... protocol c. odious ... regimen d. dilatmy ... ramiftcatlons e. presctent. .. polemics

2. Having overcome the ______ , the executive had high hopes for the future.

a. specious ... cabal b. circuitous ... knells c. dolorous ... forebodings d. mortal ... reverte e. toxic ... insurgents

3. The ______ fled the country with the millions he had stolen from the treasury.

a. impregnable ... neophyte b. pathological ... despot c. dilatocy ... miscreant d. Iisible ... insurgent e. articulate ... patriarch

4. The ___ circumstances were clearly explained by the play's __ _

a. extenuating ... denouement b. prescient...knell c. macabare .. .forebodlngs d. circuitous ... protocol e. odious ... polemic

5. "'We have had a of ___ tactics," the judge declared. "and I will not put up with it."

a. regimen ... toxic b. glut...dllatocy c. cabal ... odious d. grandeur ... verbatlm e. bnpassse ... suffrage


VOC/QUOTE

•!• Select the best word from the five choices to fit in the blanks below.

1. "There are no political ___ except in the imagination of political quacks." -Francis Parkman

a. compounds b. panaceas c. milieus d. ethics e. diatribes

2. "The effect of my is that always busy with the preliminaries and antecedents, I am never able to begin the produce."

a. genre b. expedient c. iniquity d. bias

-Henri Amiel

e. prognostication

3. "Once philosophers have written their principal works, they not infrequently simply become their own __ _

a. accomplices b. disciples c. cynics d. arbiters

-Theodore Haecker

e. badgers

4. "I hate the aesthetic game of the eye and the mind, played by those who 'appreciate' beauty."

a. connoisseurs b. charlatans c. rustles d. stentorian

-Pablo Picasso

e. paragons

5 ... Anglo-Saxon takes such very good care that its prophecies of woe to the erring person shall find fulfillment."

a. foreboding b. morality c. protocol d. polemic

-George Gissing

e. guile

6. 'The universe is not friendly to ___ and they all perish sooner or later." -Don Marquis

a. icons b. patriarchs c. despots d. insurgents e. perennials

7. " means influence." -,Jack London

a. Affluence b. Cupidity c. Complicity d. Decorum e. Proximity

8. "No one wants advice-only -,John Steinbeck

a. corroboration b. alacrity c. delineation d. dissent e. jurisdiction


VOC/QUOTE

9. "If by the time we're sixty, we haven't learned what a knot of and contradiction life is, we haven't grown old to much purpose."

a. vertigo b. sunnise c. sophistry d. privation

-John Cowper POW'JS

e. paradox

10. 'The concept of 'Momism' is male nonsense. It is the refuge of a man seeking excuses for his own lack of __ _

a. regimen b. virility c. grandeur d. temerity

-Pearl Buck

e. satiety

11. .. is the dabbling within a serious field by persons who are ill equipped to meet even the minimum standards of that field, or study, or practice."

-Ben Shahn

a. Amnesty b. Artifice c. Decadence d. Propriety e. Dilettantism

12. "Accustomed to the of noise, public relations, and market research, society is suspicious of those who value silence."

a. realm b. veneer c. surfeit d. diatribe

-John Lahr

e. cacophony

13. "In almost every act of our lives we are so clothed in and dissemblance that we can recognize but dimly the deep primal impulses that motivate us."

-James Ramsey Ullman

a. volition b. rationalization c. sophistry d. impunity e. heresy

14. "When men talk honestly about themselves, one of the themes that crops up is a ___ for the old days, at least for an idealized version of them."

a. pretext b. landmark c. nostalgia d. fetish

-Myron Brenton

e. candor

15. "We love a congenial ___ because by sympathy we can and do expand our spirit to the measure of his."

a. egotist b. nonentity c. iconclast d. ascetic

-Charles H. Cooley

e. disciple

16. "Man is certainly a animal. A never sees B in distress without thinking C ought to relieve him directly."

a. discreet b. benevolent

382

c. banal d. whimsical

-Sydney Smith

e. somber


VOC/QUOTE

17. "I cannot tolerate ___ . They are all so obstinate. so opinionated." -Joseph McCarthy

a. arbiters b. culprits c. dregs d. expatriates e. bigots

18. "We look upon as degrading. Our mothers' voices still ring in our ears: 'Have you done your homework?'"

a. indolence b. opulence c. levity d. invective

~Wilhelm Stekhel

e. histrionics

19. "By far the most dangerous foe we have to fight is ___ -indifference from carelessness, from absorption in other pursuits."

~Sir William Osler

a. umbrage b. apathy c. repose d. nepotism e. histrionics

20. "One who sees the ___ everywhere has occasion to remember it pretty often." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

a. inevitable b. precedent c. efficacy d. idyllic e. mundane

21. '!here's life for a in the characters he plays. It's such a beautiful physical escape. I enjoy the transformation of personality."

a. thespian b. miscreant c. termagant d. tyro

-Sir John Gielgud

e. sage

22. "The writing of a biography is no task: it is the strenuous achievement of a lifetime. only to be accomplished in the face of endless obstacles."

a. paltry b. facile c. lucrative d. impious

-Havelock Ellis

e. egregious

23. "Cleanliness, said some ___ man, is next to godliness. It may be, but how it came to sit so near is the marvel."

a. abstemious b. banal c. cornely d. sage

-Charles Lamb

e. devout

24. "I should like most candid friends to be anonymous. They would then be saved the painful necessity of making themselves __ _

a. venial b. odious c. sanctimonious


d. fractious

-J. A. Spender

e. benevolent

383

VOC/QUOTE

25. "A stricken tree is beautiful, so dignified, so admirable in its ___ longevity; it is, next to man, the most touching of wounded objects."

a. rash b. vulnerable c. potential d. singular

-Edna Ferber

e. omnipotent

26. "Grandparents are frequently more with their grandchildren than with their children. A grandparent cannot run with his son but can totter with his grandson."

-Andre Maurois

a. raucous b. congenial c. sedate d. tenacious e. vexatious

27. "It is unjust to the child to be born and reared as the 'creation' of the parents. He is himself, and it is within reason that he may be the very of them both."

-Ruth Benedict

a. veneer b. requisite c. antithesis d. profuse e. anathema

28. 'This, indeed, is one of the eternal of both life and literature-that without passion little gets done: yet without control of that passion, its effects are largely ill or null."

a. trends b. subterfuges c. harbingers d. fiats

-F. L. Lucas

e. paradoxes

29. "What has maintained the human race if not faith in new possibilities and courage to ___ them."

a. divulge b. flout c. advocate d. initiate

~aneAddams

e. mandate

30. "No sooner do we take steps out of our customary routine than a strange world ___ about us."

a. surges b. wanes c. recants d. juxtaposes

~.B. Priestly

e. galvanizes

31. "As the two cultures began to mingle, they encountered some revealing and shocking truths."

a. venerable b. transient c. sedentary d. disparate

-Nelson DeMille

e. servile

32. "Nothing is so exhausting as indecision, and nothing is so mired in __ _ -Bertrand Russell

a. futility b. vituperation c. subterfuge d. foment e. iniquity


VOC/QUOTE

33. ..Most quarrels are ___ at the time, incredible afterwards."

a. rash b. salient c. trenchant d. inevitable

-E. M. Forster

e. whimsical

34. ..We live at the mercy of a ---'- word. A sound, a mere disturbance of the air sinks into our very soul sometimes."

a. reviled b. malevolent c. vexatious d. irmocuous

-Joseph Conrad

e. evanescent

35. "There must be some good in the cocktail party to account for its immense __ _ among otherwise sane people."

a. vogue b. cupidity c. calumny d. audacity

-Evelyn Waugh

e. asperity

36 ... One drifting yellow leaf on a windowstll can be a city dweller's fall, and melancholy as any htllside in New England."

-E. B. White

a. somber b. cryptic c. pungent d. aloof e. doleful

37. ..For generations of German plutocrats, duelling was a bastion against weakness, effeminacy, and __ _

a. redress b. sophistry c. decadence d. temerity

-Arthur Krystal

e. vituperation

38. ..No one weeps more than the hardened scoundrel as was proved when a sentimental play was performed before an audience of gangsters whose eyes were seen to be red and swollen."

a. copiously b. vapidly c. raucously d. nominally

-Hesketh Pearson

e. laudably

39. ..My greatest problem is my dislike of , of battle. I do not like wrestling matches or arguments. I seek harmony. If it is not there, I move away."

a. artifice b. avarice c. celerity d. belligerence

-Anais Nin

e. diversity

40. "The only agreeable existence is one of idleness, and that is not, unfortunately, always ___ with continuing to exist at all."

a. bogus b. compatible c. culpable


d. felicitous

-Rose Macauley

e. inviolable

385

VOC/QUOTE

41. "Diaries are sometimes meant to be a record of one's daily waking hours. Sometimes they are an unconscious relief from the day's tensions."

-Edna Ferber

a. zealous b. tacit c. terse d. supine e. prudent

42. "Was there ever a wider and more loving conspiracy than that which keeps the ___ figure of Santa Claus from slipping away into the forsaken wonderland of the past?"

-Hamilton Mabie

a. vigilant b. venerable c. sedate d. frenetic e. factitious

43. "For him who has no concentration! there is no __ _

a. tranquility b. respite c. solace d. equanimity

-Bhagavad Gita

e. humility

44. "Real excellence and ___ are not incompatible; on the contrary, they are twin sisters."

-Jean Lacordiare

a. potential b. inhibition c. propinquity d. equanimity e. humility

45. "Children are cunning enough behind their innocent faces, though ___ might be a kinder word to describe them."

a. recondite ·b. prudent c. fatuous d. incisive

-Nan Fairbrother

e. inexorable

46. "It is not easy to ___ of anything that has given us truer insight." -John Spalding

a. repent b. rue c. recant d. eschew e. cant

47. 'There is no diplomacy like . You may lose by it now and then, but it will be a loss well gained if you do. Nothing is so boring as having to keep up a deception."

-E. V. Lucas

a. hyperbole b. chicanexy c. serenity d. candor e. opprobrium

48. "In America I was constantly being introduced to persons by people who were unmistakably superior to those notables and most modestly unaware of it."

-John Ayscough

a. eminent b. ostentatious c. mendacious d. intrepid e. garrulous


VOC/QUOTE

49. "It is because nature made me a man, going hither and thither for conversation that I love proud and lonely things."

a. magnanimous b. fastidious c. doleful d. banal

-W. B. Yeats

e. gregarious

50. "My greatest problem here, in a ___ -loving America, is my dislike of polemics. of belligerence, of battle."

a. docile b. polemic


c. fastidious d. implacable

-Anais Nin

e. nebulous

387

ANSWERS

•!• WEEK A Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

1. toxic 6. c 1. circuitous 6. c 1. rapacious 6. e 1. denouement 6. c 2. extenuating 7. a 2. foreboding 7. e 2. Insurgent 7. c 2. dilatory 7. b 3. neophyte 8. e 3. emanating 8. a 3. knell· 8. a 3. specious 8. a 4. impregnable 9. d 4. miscreant 9. b 4. macabre 9. b 4. risible 9. d 5. patriarch 10. b 5. protocol 10. d 5. ramifications 10. d 5. glut 10. e

Day 5

REVIEW SENSIBLE SENTENCES? WORDSEARCH A

1. e 7. n 13. s 19. 0 1. ramifications 1. emanating 2. t 8. p 14. c 20. m 2. toxic 2. toxic 3. g 9. b 15. h 21. v 3. protocol 3. rapacious 4. a 10. J 16. f 22. w 4. miscreant 4. glut 5. 1 11. d 17. I 23. u 5. circuitous 5. ramifications 6. k 12. r 18. q 24. X 6. risible

7. insurgent 8. denouement 9. emanating

10. macabre


1. suffrage 6. d 1. thespian 6. c 1. Impasse 6. c 1. mortal 6. c 2. dolorous 7. c 2. despot 7. d 2. grandeur 7. a 2. gulle 7. b 3. cabal 8. a 3. prescient 8. a 3. articulate 8. b 3. regimen 8. d 4. odious 9. b 4. verbatim 9. b 4. pathological 9. e 4. denigrated 9. a 5. enervated 10. e 5. reverie 10. e 5. polemic 10. d 5. Inflicted 10. e

Day 5

REVIEW WORDSEARCH B SENTENCE COMPLETION

l.h 7. J 13. e 19. d 1. articulate l.a 2. c 8. t 14~ g 20. k 2. enervated 2. c 3. f 9. 0 15. i 21. a 3. reverie 3. b 4. a 10. n 16. m 22. b 4. guile 4. a 5. s 11. q 17. p 23. c 5. prescient 5. b 6. I 12. b 18. r 24. d

·:· VOC/QUOTES 1. b 6. c 11. e 16. b 21. a 26. b 31. d 36. c 41. c 46. a 2. e 7. a 12. b 17. e 22. b 27. c 32. a 37. c 42. b 47. d 3. b 8. a 13. b 18. a 23. d 28. e 33. d 38. a 43. a 48. a 4. a 9. e 14. c 19. b 24. b 29. c 34. b 39. d 44. e 49 e s. b 10. b 15. a 20. a 25. c 30. a 35. a 40. b 45. b 50. b

388

PANORAMA OF WORDS-BONUS EDITION

articulate 'The senator's supporters were upset by the adjectives used to describe him: clean and articulate." Editorial, The New York Times

cabal "If a cabal's secrets are revealed to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees." Kahlil Gibran

circuitous "Although it took a cricuitous route, the curveball finally reached the catcher's mitt." Red Smith

denigrated "Napoleon's henchmen denigrated the memocy of Voltaire whose name the Emperor abhorred." Christopher Morley

denouement "We all sat awaiting the denouement of the play in silence." Mayne Reid

despot 'The universe is not freindly to despots, and they all perish sooner or later." Don Marquis, The Almost Perfect State

dilatory "Between dilatory payment and bankruptcy there is a great distance." Samuel Johnson

dolorous "Diabetic patients are constantly tormented by dolorous sensations." William Roberts

emanating 'The feudal idea viewed all rights as emanating from a head landlord." John Stuart Mill

enervated "I have had one of my many spasms which has almost enervated me." Lord Nelson, Letters

extenuating "In Clive's case there were many extenuating circumstances." Dame Rose Macaulay

foreboding "We are more disurbed by forebodings of a calamity which threatens us than by one which has befallen us." John Lancaster Spalding

glut 'The world in that age had a glut rather than a famine of saints." R. S. Fuller. Holy War

grandeur "I have studied the glories of Greece but am more impressed by the grandeur of Rome." Rainer Maria Rilke

guile "Oh, that deceit should steal such gentle shapes, And with a virtuous vizard hide foul guile." Shakespeare, Richard III

impasse "We expect the impasse between Britain and Iran to be resolved this weekend." United Nations Press Release

impregnable 'The Maginot Line, a French system of fortifications. was considered impregnable at the start of World War II. The Columbia Encyclopedia

inflicted "Many of the cares that we are inflicted with are but a morbid way of looking at our privileges." Sir Walter Scott

insurgent "The insurgents' improvised explosive devices killed six more American soldiers yesterday." Michael Ware, CNN 1V Broadcast

knell "Hear it not, Duncan: for it is a knell I That summons thee to heaven or to hell." Shakespeare, Macbeth

macabre "The Mardi Gras parade featured rowdy celebrants wearing macabre masks and colorful costumes." Eliza Berman, Let tf:te Good Times Roll

miscreant 'This is the basic. measure of damages, and it's owed by the miscreants to the company and shareholders." Ben Stein, State of the Union

mortal "All is mortal in nature. so is all nature in love mortal in folly." Shakespeare. As You Like It

389

PANORAMA OF WORDS-BONUS EDITION

neophyte "1be elaborate masked ritual of the courtroom holds attraction only for the neophyte and layman." David Riesman

odious "You told a lie, an odious damned lie." Shakespeare, Othello

pathological "A pathological liar is one whose lies are suggestive of a mental disorder." Webster's Medical Dictiortary

patriarch "If a patriarch wants to put his foot down, the only safe place to do it in these days is in a note-book." Florida ScottMaxwell

polemic "My greatest problem here, in a polemic-loving America, is my dislike of polemics, of belligerence, of battle." Anais Nin, The Diaries of Anais Ntn

prescient "The Spanish Republic fell in April 1939, and World War II began soon after because those prescient fighters had not been heeded." Edward Rothstein, Spanish Civil War

protocol "The most advantageous protocol is very rarely the one I did follow." Andre Gide

ramifications "I don't live in a laboratory; I have no way of knowing what ramifications my actions will have." Hugh Prather

390

rapacious "Charles V levied fmes with rapacious exactness." James Robertson

regimen .. 1 guarantee weight loss when my regimen is followed strictly." Dr. Robert Atkins

reverie "All through the ages, people have regarded their reveries as sources of wisdom." Rollo May

risible .. He is the most risible misanthrope I ever met with." Tobias Smollett, Humphrey Clinker

specious "It was a specious argument but delivered so effectively that it was con~ vincing." Murray Bromberg, Wagers of Sin

suffrage "My successor was chosen by general suffrage." John Marsden

thespian .. I regard Liev Schreiber as the outstanding thespian of our times." Ben Brantley, Theatre Critic, The New York Times

toxic .. A hope. if it is not big enough, can prove toxic; for hope is more essentially an initant than a soporific." William Bolitho

verbatim "Court reporters have to be able to take 250 words a minute in their verbatim accounts." Court Reporters; Association Guide

INDEX

A appalled, 280, 322 besiege, 46, 324 abhor, 14 7, 320 appellation, 134, 322 besmirch, 166, 324 abjure, 204, 320 arbiter, 192, 322 bias, 87, 324 abortive, 108, 320 arbitrary. 40, 322 bigot, 53, 147, 324 abound, 2, 320 archaic, 198, 322 b~e. 145, 196, 324 abrogate, 91, 320 ardent, 164, 322 blase, 258. 324 abstemious, 121. 320 array. 164, 322 blatant, 54. 324

absurd, 147, 320 articulate, 376, 389 bliss, 1 77, 324

access. 91, 320 artifact, 145, 322 blunt. 11 7. 325 accommodate, 108, 320 artifice, 259, 322 bogus, 255. 325 accomplice, 90, 320 artless, 260, 322 bona fide, 130, 325 accost. 8, 320 ascend, 45, 322 brash, 21. 325 acknowledged, 136, 320 ascertain, 283, 322 brigand,277,325 acme, 222, 320 ascetic, 129, 322-323 bristle, 16. 325 acrimonious, 29, 320 asinine, 210. 323 buff, 110, 325 acute. 161, 320 asperity. 93, 323 bulwark, 97, 325 adamant. 167, 320 aspirant. 23, 323 burgeoned. 283. 325 adherent. 177, 320 aspire. 84, 323 admonish, 28, 320 asset, 53, 323 c adroit, 10, 320 assiduous, 103, 323 cabal, 374, 389 advent, 254, 320 astute, 55, 323 cache, 98, 325 adversary, 178, 321 atrophy, 264, 323 cacophony. 170, 325 adverse, 53, 321 attenuated, 192, 323 cajole, 11, 325 advocate, 55, 321 attest, 105, 323 callous, 242. 258. 325 aegis, 154, 321 atypical. 180, 323 callow, 280, 325 afflict, 46, 321 au courant. 211, 323 calumny, 210, 325 affluent, 33, 321 audacity, 235, 323 canard, 271. 325 alacrity, 20, 321 augment, 248, 323 candid, 220, 325

allay. 205, 321 austere, 228, 323 candor. 184. 325 alleged, 91, 321 automaton, 2, 323 cant. 246, 325 alleviate. 195, 321 avarice, 173, 323 capitulate, 235, 325 allude, 253, 321 aversion, 159, 323 capricious. 261. 325 aloof, 267, 321 avid, 11. 323 carnage, 270, 326 altruistic, 98, 321 awesome, 152, 323 castigate, 22, 326

ambiguous. 196, 321 catastrophic, 142, 326 ameliorate, 264, 321 B caustic, 14, 326 amicable, 56, 321 badger, 4, 324 celerity, 195, 326

amnesty, 115, 321 bagatelle, 279, 324 cessation. 16, 326 amorous, 99, 321 balk, 117, 321 chagrin, 34, 326

analogous. 139, 321 banal. 179, 324 charisma, 286, 326

anathema, 73, 321-322 barometer, Ill, 324 charlatan. 186, 326 annals, 3, 322 bedlam, 170, 324 chicanery, 236, 326 anomaly, 190, 322 begrudge, 260, 324 chimerical, 136, 326

anthropologist. 145, 322 belated, 239, 324 circuitous, 368, 389 antipathy, 227, 322 belittle, 21, 324 clandestine, 27, 326 antiquated, 209, 322 belligerent, 20, 324 cliche, 217, 326

antithesis, 97. 322 benevolent, 265, 324 clique, 245, 326

apathy. 178, 322 bereft, 165, 324 coerce, 66, 326

391

cogent, 161, 326 cumbersome, 208, 329 dilettante, 180, 331 cognizant, 41, 326 cumulative, 135, 329 diminutive, 273, 331 comely, 259, 326 cupidity, 98, 329 discern, 33, 331 commodious, 209, 326 cuny, 252, 329 disciple, 129, 331 compassion, 221, 326 cursory, 96, 329 discreet, 203, 331 compatible, 172, 326-327 curtail, 81, 329 disdain, 20, 331 compensatory, 142, 327 cynic, 265, 329 disgruntled, 171, 331 complacent, 202, 327 disheveled. 209, 331 complicity, 90, 327 D dismantle. 116, 331 component, 104, 327 dearth. 284, 329 disparage. 35, 331 compound, 3, 327 debacle, 215, 329 disparate, 121. 331 comprehensive, 66, 327 debilitate, 202, 329 dispersed. 152, 331 concoct, 102. 327 debris, 152, 329 disseminate. 283, 331 concomitant, 191, 327 decade, 140, 329 dissent, 192. 331 concur, 27. 327 decadence. 128, 329 distraught, 29. 331-332 condescend, 184, 327 decapitate, 280, 329 diversity, 259, 332 condolence, 17, 327 declaim, 92, 329 divulge. 208, 332 condone, 196,327 decorum. 186, 329 docile. 236. 332 conducive, 230, 327 decrepit. 239, 330 doddering, 155. 332 confidant(e), 36, 327 deem, 110, 330 doleful, 60, 332 conflagration, 153, 327 defamatory, 271. 330 dolorous, 374, 389 confront, 227, 327 degrade, 220, 330 domicile, 67. 332 congenial, 154, 327 deleterious, 191, 330 dormant. 283, 332 conjecture, 68. 327 delineation. 241, 330 dregs. 23. 332 conjugal, 111, 328 delude, 136, 330 drudgery. 4. 332 connoisseur, 205, 328 deluge. 270, 330 dubious. 36. 332 connubial, 134, 328 delve, 261. 330 dulcet, 273, 332 consternation, 33, 328 demeanor, 241, 330 dupe. 15, 332 constrict, 165, 328 demur. 134, 330 duplicity, 29, 332 construe, 30, 328 denigrated, 377, 389 duress. 28. 332 consummate, 102, 328 denote, 253, 330 contemptuous, 14 7, 328 denouement,370, 389 E contort, 248, 328 depict, 222, 330 edifice, 122. 332 controversial, 93, 328 deplorable, 153, 330 efficacy. 191. 332 cope, 133, 328 deploy, 105, 330 effigy, 41 , 332 copious, 222, 328 deprecate, 271, 330 effrontery, 215, 332 corpulent, 277, 328 deride. 34,330 egotist. 167. 332 corroborate, 66, 328 derived, 284, 330 egregious. 29. 332 coterie, 98, 328 derogatory, 120, 330 elapse, 67, 332-333 countenance, 214, 328 desist, 59, 330 elicit, 30,333 coup, 114, 328 despot. 375, 389 elucidate, 246. 333 covert, 133, 328 destitution, 128, 330-331 elusive, 61, 333 covet, 223, 328 desultory, 129, 331 emaciated, 45, 333 crave, 109, 328 deter, 205, 331 embellish, 98, 333 criterion, 266, 328 detriment, 154, 331 emanating, 368, 389 cryptic, 81, 329 devout, 272, 331 eminent. 1, 333 culminate, 164, 329 dexterity, 221, 331 emissary, 278, 333 culpable, 90, 329 diatribe, 71, 331 emit, 79, 333 culprit, 28, 329 dilatory, 370, 389 emulate. 198, 333

392

encomium, 285, 333 facetious, 198, 335 garrulous, 179, 338 encumbrance, 183,333 facile, 245, 335 gaudy, 183, 338 enervated, 374, 389 factitious, 285, 335 gaunt, 216, 338 engrossed, 62, 333 fallacious, 102, 335-336 genocide, 286, 338 enhance, 11, 333 falter, 165, 336 genre, 220, 338 enigma, 105, 333 fastidious, 211, 336 germane, 230, 338 ennui, 259, 333 fatal, 234, 336 gesticulate, 10, 338 entourage, 54, 333 fatuous, 248, 336 gist, 161, 338 entreaty, 148, 333 feasible, 33, 336 glean, 203, 338 enunciate, 141. 333 feint, 20, 336 glib, 233, 338 epithet, 93, 334 felicitous, 228, 336 glut, 370, 389 epitome, 221, 334 felon, 9, 336 grandeur, 376, 389 equanimity, 172, 215, 334 ferment, 192, 336 gratuity, 260, 338 eradicate, 1 71, 334 fervid, 189, 336 gregarious, 96, 338 erudite, 230, 334 fetish, 145, 336 grimace, 210, 338 eruption, 152, 334 fetter, 92, 336 grotesque. 221. 338 escalation, 135, 334 fiasco, 35, 336 guile, 377, 389 eschew, 35, 334 flat, 115, 336 guise, 267, 338 ethics, 27, 334 flabbergasted, 215, 336 gullible, 105, 338 euphemism, 17, 334 flagrant, 28, 336 gusto, 179, 338 evaluate, 104; 334 flamboyant, 73, 336 evanescent, 204, 334 flay, 241, 336 H eventuate, 79, 334 fledgling. 185, 336 habitat, 96, 338 evince, 159, 334 flout, 41, 336-337 halcyon, 228, 338 exacerbate, 42, 334 fluctuate, 209, 337 hapless, 9, 339 excoriate, 272, 334 foist, 235, 337 harass, 40, 339 excruciating, 48, 334 foment, 203, 337 harbinger, 4 7, 339 exhort, 178, 334 foreboding, 368, 389 haven, 78, 339 exonerate, 115, 334 forthwith, 42, 337 havoc, 85, 339 expatriate, 115, 335 fortuitous, 71, 337 heinous, 241, 339 expedient, 258, 335 fracas, 178, 337 heresy, 189, 339 expedite, 195, 335 fractious, 74, 337 heterogeneous, 139, 339 exploit, 170, 335 frail, 272, 337 hirsute, 216, 339 expunge, 73, 335 fraught, 103, 337 histrionics, 61, 339 expurgate, 260, 335 fray, 40, 337 hoard, 154, 339 extant, 122, 335 frenetic, 259, 337 hoax, 104, 339 enenuating,367, 389 frenzy, 23, 337 homogeneous, 233, 339 eninct, 183, 335 fretful, 48, 337 hostile, 158, 339 enol, 245, 355 frugal, 97, 337 humility, 167, 339 enortlon, 53, 335 fruitless, 65, 337 hyperbole, 286, 339 enraneous, 196,335 frustrate, 61, 337 enrtnsic, 92, 335 fulsome, 127, 337 exult, 105, 335 furtive, 9, 337 iconoclast, 229, 339 exultation, 165, 335 futility, 270, 337 idyllic, 183, 339

ignominious, 223, 339 F G ilk, 71,340 fabricate, 10, 134, 335 galvanize, 183, 337 imbibe, 155, 340 fa~ade, 210, 335 gamut, 139, 337-338 imminent, 62, 340 facet, 234, 335 garbled, 65, 338 impasse, 376, 389

393

impeccable, 103, 340 initiate, 153, 342 largess, 266, 344 impede, 171, 340 innate, 108, 342 lassitude, 191, 24 7. 344 imperative, 146, 340 innocuous, 190, 342 latent. 110, 344 imperceptible, 248, 340 inordinate, 141. 342 laudable, 35. 344-345 imperturbable, 239. 340 insatiable, 173, 342 lax, 67, 345 impetuous, 202, 340 insidious, 253, 342 legerdemain, 233, 345 impious, 254, 340 insurgent, 369, 389 legion, 114, 345 implacable, 39. 340 integral, 72, 343 lethal, 86, 345 implore, 4, 340 intetject, 61, 343 lethargic, 158, 345 importune, 78,340 interloper, 96, 343 levity. 123. 345 impregnable, 367, 389 interminable, 4, 343 libel, 271. 345 impresario, 53, 340 internecine, 284, 343 liquidation, 90, 345 impromptu, 273, 340 interrogate, 208, 343 lithe, 177. 345 imprudent, 146, 340 intimidate, 20, 343 livid,279,345 impunity, 30, 340 intrepid, 8, 343 loath, 55, 345 inadvertent, 15, 340 intrinsic, 160, 252, 343 loathe, 14, 345 inane, 27, 340 introspective, 141, 343 longevity, 155, 345 inanimate, 145, 341 inundate, 65, 343 lucrative, 160, 345 incapacitated, 134, 341 invalidate, 91, 343 lugubrious, 123, 345 inchoate, 81. 341 invective, 166, 343 lurid, 68, 345 incipient, 15. 341 inveigh, 84, 343 lush. 128, 345 incisive, 86, 341 inveterate, 167. 343 inclement, 59, 341 inviolable, 148, 343 M incoherent, 71. 341 irascible, 141, 343 macabre, 369, 389 incompatibility, 133, 341 irate, 9, 343 Machiavellian. 240, 345 incongruous, 17. 341 irrational. 173, 343 magnanimous, 246, 345 incontrovertible, 78, 341 irrelevant, 109, 344 maim, 264. 346 incredulous, 80, 341 itinerant, 111. 344 maladjusted, 139, 346 incumbent. 1921 341 malady, 56. 346 indict, 120, 341 malevolent, 273, 346 indifference, 135, 341 jaunty, 74, 344 malign, 184. 346 indigenous, 96, 341 jeopardize, 80, 344 malignant, 4 7. 346 indigent. 40, 341 jettison, 160, 344 malleable, 233. 346 indiscriminate, 1, 341 jocose, 184, 344 malnutrition, 46, 346 indoctrinate, 127, 341-342 jostle, 15, 344 mammoth, 85, 346 indolent, 179, 342 jubilant, 186, 344 mandate, 142, 346 inebriated, 178, 342 jurisdiction, 39, 344 manifest, 261, 346 ineffectual, 55. 342 juxtapose, 133, 344 manifold, 103. 346 inert. 62, 342 martinet, 279, 346 inevitable, 160, 342 K masticate, 35, 346 inexorable, 28, 342 knell, 369, 389 mastiff, 60, 346 infallible, 1 71. 342 materialism. 130. 346 infamous, 15, 342 L matron, 2, 346 inflicted, 377, 389 labyrinth. 104, 344 maudlin, 123, 346 infraction, 242, 342 laceration, 22, 344 megalomania, 114. ingratiate, 223, 342 lackluster, 14, 344 346-347 inherent, 110, 342 laconic, 8, 344 mendacious, 115. 34 7 inhibition, 71, 342 lampoon, 214. 344 menial. 196, 347 iniquity, 265. 342 landmark. 92, 344 mentor, 245. 347

394

mercenary, 266, 347 metamorphosis, 129, 34 7 meticulous, 67, 34 7 mien. 216, 347 milieu, 190, 34 7 miscreant, 368, 389 modify, 108, 347 mollify. 266, 34 7 monoltthic, 40, 34 7 moribund, 173, 347 mortal, 377, 389 mortaltty, 140, 347 mortify, 184, 347 motivate, 229, 34 7 mundane, 17, 347 munificent. 286, 347 murky, 104, 347 myriad, 109,347

N nadir, 173, 347-348 naive. 222. 348 nascent, 229, 348 nebulous, 120, 348 nefarious, 56, 348 negltgtble, 258, 348 neophyte, 367, 390 nepotism, 284, 348 nettle, 84, 348 neurotic, 140,348 neutraltze, 142. 348 nirvana, 130, 348 noisome, 211, 348 nomadic, 93, 348 nominal, 72, 348 nondescript. 180, 348 nonentity, 215, 348 nostalgia, 117, 348 nuance, 11. 348 nullify, 270, 348 nurture, 130, 348-349 nutritive, 255, 349

0 obese, 177, 349 obltterate, ·153, 349 obloquy, 285, 349 obscure, 165, 349 obsequious. 127. 349

obsess, 60. 349 obsolescence, 36, 349 obviate, 68, 349 occult, 202, 349 octogenarian, 22, 349 odious, 37 4, 390 ominous, 16, 349 omnipotent, 185, 349 omnivorous, 121, 349 opprobrium, 240. 349 opulence, 127, 349 ortgtnate, 148, 349 ostensible, 189, 349 ostentatious, 7 4. 349-350 oust, 42, 350 overt, 84, 350

p

pall,252,350 palltate, 136, 350 paltry. 196, 350 panacea, 171, 350 pandemonium. 240,350 parable, 214, 350 paradox, 3, 350 paragon, 93, 350 paramount, 158,350 partah.267,350 paroxysm. 39, 350 parsimonious, 116, 350 pass~. 234, 350 pathetic, 177, 350 pathological, 376, 390 patirtarch,367,390 paucity, 29, 350 pecuniary, 116, 350 pedagogue, 141, 350-351 penance, 129, 151 penchant, 280, 351 penitent, 204, 351 pensive, 217, 351 penury, 223, 351 perceive, 4, 351 peregrination, 111, 351 peremptory, 185, 351 perfidious, 223, 351 perfunctory, 34, 351 permeate, 80, 351 pernicious, 30, 351

perpetrate, 102, 351 perpetuate, 142, 351 persevere, 92, 351 perspicacious, 139, 351 pertinent, 60, 351 peruse, 59, 351 perverse, 34, 351-352 pesky, 120, 352 phenomenon, 140,352 phlegmatic, 65, 352 phobia, 230, 352 pinnacle, 164, 352 pique, 180, 352 pittance, 211, 352 placard, 72, 352 plaintiff, 271, 352 platitude, 179, 352 plethora, 9, 352 pltght. 133, 352 poignant, 66, 352 polemic, 376, 390 ponder, 128, 352 potent, 272, 352 potentate, 283, 352 potential, 135, 352 potpourri, 253, 352 p~atic,267,352-353 precedent, 185,353 precipitate, 86, 353 preclude, 91. 353 precocious, 34, 353 prelude, 136, 353 premise, 80, 353 premonition, 59, 358 prerogative, 284, 353 prescient. 375, 390 presttgtous, 72, 353 pretext, 10, 353 prevalent, 158, 353 prevancation,286,353 pnvation,46,353 procrastinate, 234, 353 prodtgtous, 195,353 prodigy, 165, 353 proffer, 254, 353 profligate, 114, 353 profound, 195, 354 profuse, 273, 354 progeny, 99, 354

395

prognosticate, 2, 354 prohibition, 146, 354 prolific, 97, 354 promulgate, 21, 354 propagate, 190, 354 propensity. 205, 354 propinquity, 170, 354 propitious, 80, 354 propriety. 254, 354 protocol, 368, 390 proximity, 247, 354 prudent, 189, 354 pugnacious, 21, 354 puissant. 123, 354 pungent, 167, 354 puny. 152, 354

Q qualm, 260, 354 quandary,258, 355 quarry, 203, 355 quell,36, 355 quip, 68, 355

R rabid, 198, 355 raconteur, 278, 355 rail, 277, 355 raiment, 277. 355 ramifications, 369, 390 rampant, 27, 355 rapacious, 369, 390 rash, 68, 355 rationalize. 229, 355 raucous, 255, 355 raze, 85, 355 realm, 3, 355 rebuke, 159, 355 recant, 90, 355 recoil, 59, 355 recondite, 135, 355 redolent, 121, 355 redress, 242, 355-356 refute, 216, 356 regimen, 377, 390 relegate, 84, 356 remiss, 158, 356 remote, 4 7, 356 remuneration, 72, 356

396

repent. 266, 356 repertoire, 248, 356 replenish, 261, 356 replete, 1, 356 repose, 121. 356 reprehensible, 39, 356 repress, 81, 356 reprimand, 14, 356 reproach, 204, 356 repudiate, 16, 356 repugnant, 221, 356 repulse, 85, 356 reputed, 272, 356 requisite, 261, 357 resourceful, 103, 357 respite, 48, 357 restrictive. 117, 357 reticent. 8, 236, 357 retort, 236, 35 7 retrospect, 166, 357 reverberating, 48, 357 revere, 172, 357 reverie, 375, 390 revert, 42, 357 reviled, 120; 357 rhetoric, 245, 357 rife, 117, 357 rift, 278,357 risible, 370, 390 romp, 110, 357 roster, 264, 357 rudimentary, 11. 357 rue, 153,357 ruminate, 278, 357-358 rustic, 186, 358

s saga, 239, 358 sage, 154, 358 salient, 62, 358 sally, 33, 358 salubrious, 198, 358 salvation, 130, 358 sanctimonious, 214, 358 sanction, 253, 358 sanctuary, 45, 358 sanguine, 65, 358 satiety, 252, 358 saturate, 99, 358

schism. 73, 358 scion, 127, 358 scoff, 21, 358 scrutinize. 56. 358 scurrilous, 23, 358 scurry, 86. 359 sedate, 172, 359 sedentary, 97, 359 senile, 155, 359 serenity, 1 72. 359 servile, 227. 359 shibboleth, 255, 359 sinecure. 87, 359 singular, 87. 359 sinister, 46, 359 site, 208, 359 skirmish. 39, 359 slovenly, 203, 359 sojourn, 227. 359 solace, 23, 359 solicit, 55, 359 somber, 202, 359 sophistry. 285, 359 sordid, 22. 359 spate, 254, 359 specious, 370, 390 spew, 54, 360 spontaneous. 108, 360 sporadic. 67, 360 spurious. 189, 360 squeamish, 62. 360 stagnant. 234, 360 staunch, 240, 360 steeped, 1, 360 stentorian, 87, 360 stereotype, 86, 360 stigmatize, 235, 360 stipulate, 17, 360 strident. 191, 360 strife, 114. 360 stunted, 264, 360 stupor. 217. 360 stymie. 41. 360 subjugate, 78', 360 subservient. 265. 360 substantiate. 255, 360-361 subterfuge, 102, 361 subterranean, 79, 361 succinct, 196. 361

succulent, 252, 361 tradition, 148, 363 vestige, 267, 364 succumb, 48, 361 tranquil. 45. 363 vexatious. 56, 364 suffrage. 374, 390 transient, 161. 363 viable. 79, 364 sullen. 278, 361 tremulous. 16, 363 vicissitudes. 122. 364 sultry, 122. 361 trenchant. 122. 363 vigil. 208. 365 sumptuous. 116. 361 trend, 233. 363 vigilant. 10. 365 superficial. 159, 361 trivial. 196, 363 vilify. 246. 365 superfluous. 228, 361 truncated. 7 4. 363 vindicate. 241. 365 supine. 85, 361 turbulent. 41, 363 virile. 155. 365 supplication. 128. 361 turpitude, 242, 363 virtuosity, 99. 365 surfeit. 190. 361 tussle, 160, 363 virulent, 54, 365 surge. 45, 361 tyro, 285, 363 vitiate, 247. 365 surmise. 81. 361 vitriolic. 166,365 surreptitious. 78, 361 u vituperation, 242. 365 susceptible, 140, 361 ubiquitous. 47, 363 vivacious. 216. 365 symptomatic, 61. 361 ultimate. 79, 363 vogue, 159. 365

umbrage. 246, 363 volition. 227. 365

T unabated, 123, 363 voluble, 36. 365 taboo, 146. 361-362 unconscionable. 240. 363 voluminous. 166. 365 tacit. 236. 362 unctuous. 265, 363 voracious. 1, 365 taint. 146, 362 underwrite, 116, 363 vulnerable. 148, 170. 365 tangible, 22. 362 universal. 14 7. 364 tantalize. 235. 362 unkempt, 211, 364 w tantamount, 204, 362 unmitigated, 209, 364 wan, 60, 365 taut. 279, 362 unsavory, 220, 364 wane, 180, 365 technology, 2, 270, 362 unwieldy, 247, 364 wary. 205. 365 temerity, 99, 362 urbane, 109. 364 wheedle. 186, 366 tenable, 228. 362 usurp, 196, 364 whet. 217, 366 tenacious, 210. 362 utopia, 73. 364 whimsical. 214. 366 termagant. 280, 362 wince. 217, 366 terminate, 42. 362 v wistful. 277, 366 terse. 161, 362 vacillate, 239. 364 wrest. 14. 366 therapy, 229, 362 valor, 87. 364 thespian, 375, 390 vapid, 24 7. 364 y throng. 8, 362 vehemently. 222. 364 yen, 279, 366 thwart, 4 7. 362 veneer, 109, 364 timorous, 7 4, 362 venerable, 197. 364 z tinge. 3, 362 venial. 220. 364 zealous, 66, 366 tolerate, 30, 362 venom, 54. 364 zenith. 185. 366 tortuous. 11 1, 363 verbatim, 375, 390 toxic. 367, 390 vertigo, 230, 364

397

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